Dear Member of the Parliament,

We are writing on behalf of the Democracy Working Group (DWG). DWG is a UK-based non- profit think tank organisation working to restore democracy and protect human rights in Bangladesh.

The people of Bangladesh got back to democracy and voting rights after a long struggle against the dictatorship in 1991. However, after the 2008 election under the current ruling party, Bangladesh is facing a slow and painful decline in democracy along with freedom of speech and human rights. The current Bangladesh Government held three general elections in 2013, 2018 and 2024, but none of them were participative and in a democratic environment. All major opposition parties avoided the election, as there was no democratic environment to ensure the people’s right to vote and freedom of speech. The current Awami League government is also using the county’s law enforcement agency to crack down on opposition party leaders and activists. Many opposition voices were arrested without any warrant, adding the names of the opposition party leaders and activists in police cases even after an arrest. Extrajudicial killing and forced disappearance have increased in recent years.

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and other human rights organisations expressed multiple concerns. In December 2021, the United States Sanctioned RAB (a special wing of the Bangladesh Police Force) for severe human rights abuse. Bangladesh has become an autocratic country within the wrap of democracy, and gradually, it is going to the point of no return.

The UK, USA, European Union, and the United Nations Human Rights Commission raised questions about the fairness of the recent election and human rights violations in Bangladesh. We would like to thank the UK Government for the initiative. However, more must be done to protect democracy and human rights in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh needs to stay on the right path of democracy for the benefit of its people and global peace and security. As it is located in an important geopolitical location, only a democratic Bangladesh can stay away from the influence of other authoritarian and non-democratic regimes in the region. As the current Awami League government is using any means to remain in power rather than giving the people the right to choose their leader by a free and fair election, it is leaning more towards the gravity of the authoritarian countries and using their support to stay in power which is,

a) Undermining the state of democracy of the country and destroying any chance of returning to the right way of democratic government

b) The country’s human rights condition is under serious threat, and the will of the people is ignored, which might lead the nation toward a civil war.

c) Putting regional peace and security under serious threat as the Awami League government is creating more space for authoritarian countries in the region,

Considering all the above, we are asking the international community to put pressure on the current government of Bangladesh to stop torturing, disappearing, Extrajudicial killing, using police force to arrest and crackdown opposition party leaders and activists, and holding free, fair and participatory elections under the neutral Caretaker Government to return the people’s right to vote and freedom of speech.

We humbly request that you raise the issue in the British parliament, asking the UK government to withdraw its support from the current Bangladesh government and put pressure to protect Bangladesh’s democracy and human rights.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.