By 
28-04-2026 | Dominik Miklósi | Asia Researcher, Global Human Rights Defence.
Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has voiced its concerns via a mid-April 2026 report on the myriad alleged irregularities found during the recent Bangladeshi general elections. The publication details politically fuelled hindrance of legal professionals’ nominations and participation in the elections, along with other related issues potentially infringing upon their human rights.
On April 17th, 2026, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) published a report in which the non-profit human rights organisation strongly condemned the politically motivated cancellation of certain lawyers’ candidacies, the hindrance of their political participation, and unlawful police interventions related to the national elections. The serious misconduct and potential human rights violations took place across different parts of Bangladesh. These include Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Jhalakathi, Khulna, Narail, and Sunamganj district bar associations. In its publication, JMBF has listed multiple demands addressed to Bangladesh, such as conducting independent legal investigations into all emerging situations, calling off the unfair elections, and carrying out new elections that live up to democratic standards, and ensuring the full participation of legal professionals.
However, this was not the first time Bangladesh has experienced politically fuelled and arbitrary actions in its recent past, including incidents in 2025. According to the World Report 2026 of Human Rights Watch, it has been found that under the current government, “Hundreds of Awami League leaders [a large political party], members, and supporters are in custody as murder suspects, held without trial and routinely denied bail“. The list of individuals who have fallen victim to the regime’s unlawful actions consists of, among others, artists, activists, and legal professionals.
The alleged actions by the leadership of Bangladesh in the context of the general elections highlighted in the report of JMBF give rise to serious human rights concerns. These include issues concerning the right to political participation and the right to a fair and free election process. Hence, each individual’s situation must be scrutinised on a thorough, case-by-case basis with the aim of adhering to international standards, as it is the only possible avenue to a rights-respecting, free, and rule of law-centred political landscape.
