Bangladesh Elections: US lawmakers express concern over party bans, flawed tribunal

As Bangladesh prepares for national elections scheduled for February 12, growing international concern is emerging over the political environment under the country’s interim administration. A group of United States lawmakers has cautioned that recent actions taken by Dhaka could weaken the credibility of the upcoming polls and undermine democratic norms, as reported by ANI.US Representatives Gregory W Meeks, Bill Huizenga, and Sydney Kamlager-Dove have written to Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, warning that suspending political parties and reviving the International Crimes Tribunal, described by them as flawed, may damage public trust at a critical political moment.

The lawmakers acknowledged Yunus’s role in steering Bangladesh

during a turbulent phase, stating, “We welcome your willingness to step forward at a moment of national crisis in Bangladesh to lead an interim government ahead of elections in February.” However, they stressed that an inclusive political process is essential if the elections are to be free and fair.
The letter expressed concern that banning political organisations could disenfranchise large sections of voters and erode democratic legitimacy. The lawmakers urged the interim government to engage with all political parties, arguing that democratic transitions succeed only when citizens are allowed to express their will peacefully through the ballot.They also warned that this goal would be difficult to achieve if the interim administration moved ahead with suspending parties or reactivating the International Crimes Tribunal. Such steps, they said, could further weaken already fragile public confidence in state institutions.

Placing their warning in a broader context, the lawmakers referred to Bangladesh’s recent electoral history. They noted that the US Department of State and other international observers had concluded that the 2018 and 2024 general elections were not free or fair.

The letter also cited a February report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which estimated that around 1,400 people were killed by security forces during protests in July and August 2024.

On accountability, the lawmakers wrote, “Genuine accountability for these acts should model the values of Bangladesh’s democracy, rather than continue a cycle of retaliation.”

They emphasised that freedom of association and individual rather than collective, criminal responsibility are fundamental human rights, adding that suspending an entire political party contradicts these principles.

The concerns come amid recent political developments, including the banning of the Awami League on May 10, 2025, after the interim government prohibited its activities under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Two days later, the Election Commission suspended the party’s registration.

Urging a review of such decisions, the lawmakers said the people of Bangladesh “deserve to be able to choose an elected government in a free and fair election in which all political parties can participate.” They described Bangladesh as a ‘critical partner’ of the United States and reaffirmed Washington’s readiness to work with Dhaka.