CIVICUS welcomes the interim government’s steps to respect and protect civic space since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime. However, more needs to be done to protect civil society and journalists, strengthen accountability, and prevent the targeting of the opposition ahead of the February 2026 elections.
The CIVICUS Monitor, a participatory research platform, continues to document the harassment of activists, the criminalisation and restrictions on journalists, and the lack of progress in reforming the NGO Affairs Bureau, a body historically used to monitor and harass critical civil society organisations. Similarly, the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act 2016 has been used to control civil society organisations and restrict international funding.
First we’d like to request information on steps undertaken to address these concerns, specifically to reform the NGO Affairs Bureau and revise the Foreign Donations Act. CIVICUS remains concerned that without these actions, activists and civil society remain at risk, especially as elections approach.
Second, we acknowledge the establishment of the Police Reform Commission, which presented 108 recommendations aimed at transforming the police into an accountable, impartial, and transparent institution. The Commission’s proposals, submitted in early 2025, include revising outdated laws, creating an independent oversight body, and enhancing police training and human rights practices. Notably, we urge reassessment of the necessity of the Rapid Action Battalion by reviewing its past activities and human rights violations.
Third, CIVICUS is concerned about the new Cyber Protection Ordinance, which replaced the previous cyber law but still falls short of international human rights standards. We note that criminal defamation provisions in the Penal Code remain in place, raising fears that these laws could be used to silence dissent.
And finally, we remain concerned that ahead of the February 2026 elections, the interim government banned the activities of the opposition Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act in May 2025. While those responsible for crimes under the previous government should be held accountable, imposing a blanket ban on any speech or activity deemed supportive of a political party constitutes an excessive restriction on fundamental freedoms and risks mirroring the previous regime’s abusive clampdown on political opponents.
The above verbal intervention was delivered by Jesselina Rana, UN Advisor at CIVICUS and draws on the CIVICUS country brief on Bangladesh.
Resources:
Download the Bangladesh Country Brief Here
CIVICUS Monitor rates civic space in Bangladesh as Repressed
