An international coalition of human rights advocates and scholars has issued a stark declaration calling for sweeping reforms in Bangladesh and urging the restoration of civil liberties, judicial independence, and free elections amid ongoing human rights crises following the July-August 2024 changeover.
The demands emerged from a day-long virtual conference held on October 29, 2025, titled “Turning Point: Bangladesh after the July–August Uprising,” organised by the Global Centre for Democratic Governance (Canada) and the South Asia Democratic Forum (Belgium), in collaboration with groups from Poland, the UK, India, Switzerland, and the USA.
The gathering, which drew speakers from across the globe, expressed “deep concern” over “grave human rights violations” in Bangladesh over the past 15 months, including killings, arbitrary detentions, torture, and attacks on minorities, women, and political opponents.
Participants reaffirmed their “strong commitment” to democracy, good governance, and human rights, while sharply critiquing a recent United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) fact-finding report on the 2024 protests. Speakers lambasted the document for breaching UN editorial policies, exhibiting “methodological opacity,” contextual imbalance, insufficient analysis, and a lack of impartiality, arguing it undermined credible accountability efforts.
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Presided over by Prof. Dr. Md Habibe Millat, president of the Global Centre for Democratic Governance (GCDG), the conference featured addresses from prominent figures, including Rev. Dr. Robert B. Lancia, former Rhode Island legislator; William Sloan, Canadian human rights lawyer; Prof. Veena Sikri, ex-Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh; Paulo Casaca, founder of the South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF); and Suhas Chakma, director of India’s Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG).
Other contributors included academics such as Prof. Dr Mohammad Shahidullah from the University of Arizona, human rights lawyers like Barrister Tapas Kanti Baul from Germany, and activists like Pushpita Gupta of the UK’s Secular Bangladesh Movement. Moderators Priyajit Debsankar (UK), Eng. Rana Hassan Mahmud (USA) and Debadyuti Dasgupta (India) guided discussions, and Md. Golam Kibria, the centre’s executive director, delivered a vote of thanks.
At the heart of the event was a consensus declaration outlining five core demands and recommendations aimed at national and international stakeholders to avert further instability in South Asia. The declaration insists on the full restoration of civil, political, and religious rights, alongside the safeguarding of fundamental freedoms.
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It calls for an independent judiciary free from political interference to deliver equal justice for all, emphasising that only impartial courts can rebuild trust in Bangladesh’s institutions. Participants further demanded fair and transparent investigations into all reported atrocities, including killings, detentions, torture, and violence against women, children, minorities, and political opponents. As the statement reads, every victim deserves justice, and it urges prompt prosecutions to end cycles of impunity and heal societal divides.
In a strong condemnation of media censorship and attacks on journalists, the group called for an immediate end to intimidation, imprisonment, and censorship, while advocating for full freedom of expression and robust protections for media workers. It warned that stifled reporting erodes democratic oversight, making these safeguards essential for accountability.
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To counter rising extremism, the declaration recommends united action through inclusive governance, human rights promotion, and enhanced regional cooperation. Speakers highlighted the risks to South Asia’s peace, urging collaborative efforts to foster lasting stability beyond Bangladesh’s borders.
The most urgent plea in the declaration was for inclusive, free, fair, and transparent national elections under a neutral and credible caretaker government. This would ensure the meaningful participation of all political parties and reflect the democratic will of the people, restoring public faith in electoral processes.
The conference underscored that these steps are interlinked: without judicial reforms and press freedoms, accountability remains elusive; without curbing extremism, elections risk violence; and without inclusive polls, governance will falter.
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Media partners, including Global Bangla (UK), Bridge Bangla24 (UK), and Alfa TV (Canada), amplified the proceedings, reaching diaspora communities and global audiences.
Activists say the declaration serves as a clarion call. “The path to recovery lies in accountability and inclusion,” Casaca told attendees, echoing the sentiment that international pressure is vital to enforce these recommendations. With the nation still reeling from the 2024 unrest that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government, advocates warn that delays could deepen divisions and invite further chaos.
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