108 former Awami League MPs arrested, bail denied unlawfully

The Global Centre for Democratic Governance has released the list of 108 former members of parliament of the Awami League, including 12 female MPs, who were arrested from August 9, 2024, to May 27, 2025, as part of its political vengeance.

The organisation said the arrests were made without specifying any charges, and often without issuing warrants. Later, seven of the MPs were granted bail for various reasons.

It said that, despite being eligible for bail under the existing laws of Bangladesh, the remaining 101 MPs have been repeatedly denied it, facing abuse and mental torture by the police and judiciary, physical attacks in custody and the court premises by the mobs, and even by the lawyers supporting the interim government.

Moreover, bail granted by the High Court was frequently stayed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, and detained MPs released on bail were “shown-arrested” with new charges at the jail gates.

The organisation alleged that the detained MPs are often remanded to police custody by the judges without the presence of any defense lawyer.

Party President and five-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has condemned the ban on activities of the Awami League, mass arrest of leaders and activists, and looting and arson attacks. The police are failing to act against killers and looters, instead targeting Awami League members.

Sheikh Hasina said at least 137,000 Awami League leaders, activists, journalists, intellectuals, professionals, and freedom fighters are currently imprisoned. Approximately 80,000 cases have been filed, a “world record” by Yunus.

On the other hand, Yunus has released listed terrorists and militants from jail.

A statistic by the human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has revealed that 172 people were killed in lynchings across the country from August last year till May 31 this year, mostly Awami League leaders and activists.

Moreover, at least 25 Awami League leaders and activists have died in prison custody under suspicious and brutal circumstances.

Fascist, militant-patron Yunus

Sheikh Hasina has highlighted the state-sponsored mob culture, extortion, corruption, suppression of press freedom, arbitrary arrests, wholesale cases, targeted killings, and impunity to depict the fascist mindset of the West’s puppet, Yunus.

Yunus has collected information on the Awami League activists at the upazila and union levels using hired agents and made a database to identify the popular leaders, future leaders, and their relatives, she said in her recent audio speech.

His followers are admitting their role in arson attacks and police murders. But false cases are being filed against the Awami League members, she added.

The Yunus Gang has created an atmosphere of terror and anarchy with the help of the associates, Jamaat-Shibir and BNP, as during the Liberation War and the post-2001 election period.

“Then, who is the fascist?

“There should be a limit on false accusations. They are harassing me, my sister, and our children with false cases. Every Awami League leader and activist, their relatives, children, and even in-laws are not spared.”

Sheikh Hasina said: “They blame me for enforced disappearance and murders. Whom have I killed? Will the militants, killers, and arsonists not be arrested and imprisoned?”

In the case filed by BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed, Sheikh Hasina said he filed it against her for his disappearance. “He was in India. How did he get a travel document from India? Does it mean I send him to India? If that is the case, he is so lucky that I kept him in excellent shape in India.”

The BNP Standing Committee member submitted his complaint to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) on June 3, accusing seven people, including Sheikh Hasina.

She described how the terrorists and militants have killed her party leaders and activists. The militants have looted and torched their houses. Those who escaped death are staying away from their families.

The killers are so brutal that they are not afraid of chopping or shooting someone in broad daylight. People are also afraid to protest. Robberies and looting by mobs are taking place in houses and offices every day. People are killed if they refuse to pay the toll. Women and children are raped every day. But not all incidents are reported.

There is video footage and photos of the killings. Analyse them and find the culprits.

“Can the journalists honestly say that you can write what you see? No, you cannot write without fear. There will be arson attacks.”

She said Yunus captured power by spreading propaganda and using militants and terrorists and has now taken the country to the verge of destruction.

“I returned to Bangladesh on May 17, 1981, and faced death every now and then. But I did not retreat.

“But this time, had I tried to stay in power [on August 5], maybe several hundred more people would have died. But I did not want it.

“Yunus is responsible for the deaths of Abu Sayed, Mugdho and others. He had regular conversations with the student coordinators over the phone. They even talked on August 1. The students advanced their program by a day from August 6, the day when a Dhaka court was set to deliver a verdict in the tax evasion case.”