Amnesty International Issues Open Letter to Dr. Yunus Ahead of Elections
In an open letter sent on January 29, Amnesty Secretary General Agnès Callamard urged the Chief Adviser to take immediate steps to restore public confidence.
Published on the organization’s official website and social media platforms, the letter expresses deep concern over several issues leading up to the February 12 polls. Key among these are the misuse of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) against journalists, restrictions on freedom of expression, and the failure to protect the right to peaceful assembly.
"The coming weeks will be a major test for the Interim Government to fulfill its obligation to restore human rights under international law," Callamard stated in the letter. She alleged that since taking office in 2024, there has been a trend of using harsh laws to suppress journalists and critics, citing the arrests of journalist Manjurul Alam Panna in August 2025 and Anis Alamgir in December 2025 as "arbitrary."
The letter also highlighted the violence following the death of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, spokesperson for the Inqilab Mancha, on December 18. Amnesty criticized the administration's inadequate response to the arson attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as well as the harassment of New Age editor Nurul Kabir. The lynching of Deepu Chandra Das in Mymensingh on the same day was also cited as a grave violation of human rights.
Concluding the appeal, Amnesty International released a "Human Rights Charter" for the election period. The organization emphasized that for the election to be fair and credible, the government must ensure an environment where every citizen can participate and express their views without fear.
