In a display of international concern, lawmakers from the United Kingdom have called on Bangladesh’s Jamaat-controlled interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, to hold free, fair, and inclusive elections that allow participation from all political parties, including the banned Awami League.
The initiative comes as Bangladesh prepares for national polls expected in early 2026, amid reports of political suppression, minority persecution, and escalating violence following the ouster of the Awami League government in August 2024.
Three UK Members of ParliamentโBob Blackman, Jim Shannon, and Andrew Georgeโtabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons on December 16, 2025, condemning recent violence in Bangladesh and emphasising the need for democratic reforms.
The motion states: “That this House condemns the recent violence in Bangladesh and urges the Government to ensure free, fair and inclusive elections are called in which all political parties should be allowed to compete; and notes that those who are guilty should be prosecuted under fair trial and ensuring minorities’ rights should be protected.”
Blackman, a Conservative MP known for advocating minority rights, described the interim government’s ban on the Awami League as an “outrage” during an adjournment debate. In a post on X on Tuesday, he reiterated: “During the Adjournment debate, I called for free and fair elections in Bangladesh. I also raised my concerns on the outlawing of the Awami League.”
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Shannon and George, representing the Democratic Unionist Party and Liberal Democrats respectively, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the importance of protecting minorities and upholding fair trials.
Complementing the UK effort, five US lawmakers sent a letter to Yunus on December 23, 2025, urging the interim government to rectify the exclusion of political parties and ensure an inclusive electoral process.
Led by Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee), Bill Huizenga, and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, the bipartisan group expressed alarm over the ban on the Awami League, warning that it undermines democratic principles. The letter stresses the need for all parties to participate fully in the upcoming elections and calls for the protection of human rights, including those of religious and ethnic minorities.
“This would need to be rectified before, or once, the election schedule is announced,” the lawmakers noted, emphasising that banning major parties risks the credibility of the polls.
The US letter also advocates for prosecuting those responsible for violence through fair trials, aligning with the UK motion’s focus on justice and minority safeguards.
These interventions occur against a backdrop of mounting instability in Bangladesh. Since Yunus assumed power, the government has faced accusations of enabling radical Islamist groups, releasing over 144 jailed militants, and failing to curb attacks on minorities. Human rights groups report thousands of communal incidents, including the recent lynching of Hindu worker Dipu Chandra Das and the murder of an elderly Hindu couple in Rangpur.
The ban on the Awami Leagueโs political activities, imposed amid claims of its involvement in past violence, has drawn widespread criticism for excluding a major political force that led the country’s independence movement in 1971.
International observers, including the United Nations, have urged a transparent electoral process. India, Bangladesh’s closest neighbour, has expressed concerns over anti-India sentiments and border security, summoning Bangladesh’s high commissioner earlier this month.
As Yunus’ administration pushes forward with reforms, including a July Charter referendum, critics argue these steps favour Islamist allies like Jamaat-e-Islami, unbanned under the regime.
The UK and US actions signal growing global scrutiny, potentially linking Bangladesh’s UN peacekeeping roles to improvements in human rights and democracy. With elections looming, the calls underscore the risk of further polarization if inclusivity is ignored.
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