Democracy Under Siege: How an Unelected Regime is Dismantling Democracy and Empowering Corruption

Founded in 1949, the Bangladesh Awami League led the nation to independence in 1971 under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The party has since been the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s democratic development, socio-economic progress, and global engagement. The targeting of such a party is a direct attack on the historical and democratic foundation of Bangladesh.

The current interim regime has launched an aggressive campaign to eliminate the Awami League from political existence:

Arbitrary Arrests: Thousands of AL leaders and activists have been imprisoned without due process.

Political Harassment: Systematic raids, harassment, and closure of party offices.

Suppression of Media: Censorship of pro-AL media and persecution of journalists.

Violent Crackdowns: Peaceful rallies violently suppressed, resulting in casualties.

Ban on Political Activities: All Awami League activities have been officially banned—a grave violation of political freedom.

One of the most disturbing developments under the interim regime has been the use of militant terrorism to kill Awami League leaders and activists. This state-tolerated and possibly state-sponsored violence is intended to terrorize the political opposition and destroy grassroots leadership.
Targeted Killings: AL activists, especially in rural and district areas, are being assassinated in a planned and systematic manner.

Militant Gangs Empowered: Radical and extremist groups are being covertly supported or allowed to operate freely, unleashing violence on AL supporters.

Law Enforcement Complicity: In many cases, law enforcement either fails to intervene or actively shelters the perpetrators.

Message of Fear: These killings are not just acts of violence but a strategic campaign to create fear, silence dissent, and dismantle the organizational structure of the party.

This constitutes political terrorism and crimes against humanity. The regime must be held internationally accountable for facilitating or failing to prevent such atrocities.

Simultaneous with political repression, the interim regime is engaging in unprecedented looting of the country's wealth:

• Embezzlement of Public Funds through fake development projects and inflated tenders.
• Illegal Transfers of National Wealth via money laundering and offshore accounts.
• Extortion and Bribery Networks, especially within business and law enforcement sectors.
• Banking Sector Looting by distributing unsecured loans to loyalists.
• Seizure of AL-Owned Assets, often under fabricated charges.
• Corrupt Procurement Practices, exploiting public procurement and foreign aid.
• The interim government is not only destroying democracy but plundering the nation’s economic resources.

The interim government has violated:

• Freedom of Association and Assembly (Article 20, UDHR)
• Right to Political Participation (Article 25, ICCPR)

Constitutional Guarantees of multiparty democracy under the Bangladesh Constitution

• The regime's actions represent a total breakdown of constitutional order and democratic legitimacy.
• The notorious Dr. Muhammad Yunus, a corrupt, murderous usurer, is now accused of widespread corruption, abuse of power, and exploitation of the poor. While his public image abroad has been carefully crafted, numerous credible sources and internal investigations reveal a completely different reality inside Bangladesh.
• Under the protection of the current interim government, Dr. Yunus is alleged to have become one of the main power brokers, using this cover to expand his financial empire and suppress the opposition, especially the Bangladesh Awami League.
• Grameen Telecom has been found guilty of withholding legally mandated profit shares from employees. Hundreds of crores in unpaid dues have been documented.
• Yunus-controlled organizations failed to pay appropriate taxes on foreign grants and revenue, depriving the national treasury of substantial income.
• Illegal Share Transfers: He is accused of manipulating shareholdings to keep control of nonprofit entities while generating private revenue.

Dr. Yunus’s political alliance with anti-Awami League forces has emboldened his corruption:

• He has supported unelected technocratic regimes and called for foreign intervention in domestic politics.
• In return, he is being protected from legal consequences, while his critics—including journalists and former Grameen employees—face harassment or legal threats.
• His international lobbying, especially through elite Western networks, has been used to manipulate narratives and suppress the truth about his misconduct.

We strongly condemn the actions of the interim government and call upon all democratic forces—at home and abroad—to stand in solidarity with the Bangladesh Awami League and the people of Bangladesh in their fight for freedom, justice, and democracy.

Writer: Shakhawat Hossain, Expatriate Bengali businessman