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Project Title: Monitoring Judicial Proceedings of Journalists and Unnamed Accused in Post-Transition Bangladesh

Project Partner: Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ)

Project Timeline: July 1, 2025 to December 1, 2026

About the Project:

The mass uprising of July-August 2024 in Bangladesh was driven by widespread public demands for democracy, freedom of expression, and the aspiration for a more just and accountable state. The subsequent political transition raised strong hopes that long-standing patterns of repression would be dismantled and that fundamental rights, particularly freedom of speech and fair trial guarantees, would be meaningfully protected. However, developments since the transition suggest that many of the same coercive legal practices continue to be used, now under a new political context.

In particular, the period following the transition has seen a growing number of criminal cases filed against journalists, especially those perceived to be critical or politically misaligned, alongside the extensive use of omnibus First Information Reports related to the July 2024 protests. These FIRs frequently name large numbers of unidentified individuals, creating broad scope for arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention, and intimidation. Together, these practices raise serious concerns about due process, judicial independence, and the continued use of the criminal justice system as a tool to suppress dissent.

Implemented in partnership with the Clooney Foundation for Justice through its TrialWatch initiative, this project aims to rigorously assess Bangladesh’s compliance with international human rights standards during this critical transition period. The project focuses on systematic monitoring of selected criminal proceedings against journalists and representative omnibus FIR cases, with particular attention to arrest and detention practices, bail proceedings, charge framing, and trial conduct. Through courtroom observation, collection of legal documents, and detailed analysis of procedural safeguards, the project seeks to document patterns of fair trial violations and restrictions on freedom of expression.

Beyond documentation, the project is explicitly oriented toward accountability and reform. Findings will be translated into evidence-based reports and advocacy outputs designed to inform public debate and engage key national and international stakeholders, including human rights mechanisms, legal communities, and the media. By shedding light on the continued misuse of legal processes for political purposes, the project seeks to support efforts to protect journalists, safeguard the right to dissent, and promote a justice system that reflects the democratic aspirations articulated during the 2024 uprising.