The Bangladesh Awami League has issued a strongly worded statement condemning what it describes as the “fascist Yunus regime” for its alleged inhuman treatment of a jailed former Chhatra League leader, Jewel Hasan Saddam, former president of the Bagerhat Sadar Upazila unit.
In the statement, the party expressed outrage over prison authorities’ refusal to grant parole or temporary release to Saddam, preventing him from participating in the funeral (janaza) of his 22-year-old wife, Kaniz Subarna Swarnali, and their nine-month-old son (named variously as Nazif, Sejad Hasan Nazif, or Shehzad Hasan Nazif).
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The family deaths occurred on January 23, 2026, in Sabekdanga/Bekhedanga village, Bagerhat Sadar Upazila, with reports indicating the wife died by hanging after allegedly drowning the infant, amid severe depression linked to her husband’s prolonged detention.
The Awami League described the incident as a “grave and merciless violation of human rights,” labelling it incompatible with any civilised state, rule of law, or basic humanitarian values. It accused the current interim government—led by Muhammad Yunus—of pursuing political vengeance, transforming state machinery into tools of cruelty, and deriving “savage pleasure” from inflicting suffering.
The party highlighted the brief, supervised viewing of the bodies at the gates of Jashore Central Jail on January 24 or 25, 2026, as a heartbreaking and insufficient gesture, where Saddam could only cradle his child and touch his wife’s body briefly before being returned to his cell without further leniency.
Calling the denial a breach of both international human rights standards and domestic laws, the Awami League termed it an example of “judicial impunity” and “state-sponsored brutality.” It demanded an immediate end to such inhumane practices and urged Bangladeshi citizens and international human rights organisations to focus on protecting prisoners’ rights in the country.
This statement aligns with the party’s broader narrative, framing the post-August 2024 interim administration as authoritarian and retaliatory toward former Awami League affiliates.
Independent reports from rights groups like Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) have echoed concerns, stating that denying parole in such circumstances violates constitutional provisions and international norms. Prison officials confirmed the limited viewing occurred for “humanitarian reasons” but cited no formal parole application or higher approval for release.
The tragedy has spotlighted allegations of politically motivated arrests, prolonged detentions without bail, and family devastation following the 2024 political shift. While the Awami League’s language is sharply partisan—referring to the government as “fascist,” “occupying,” and “vengeful”—the case has drawn attention from media and rights observers documenting a pattern of hardship for opposition-linked individuals under the interim setup.
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