GANHRI Accused of Failing to Suspend 'Non-Existent' Bangladesh NHRC to Shield Yunus

New Delhi: The Global Alliance of the National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) is facing sharp criticism for its failure to take action against the dissolved National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Bangladesh, a body which has been without members for a full year. The Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), in a strongly worded letter to GANHRI today, alleged that the inaction is politically motivated, intended "to save the image" of Nobel Laureate and Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, Muhammad Yunus.

One Year Without a National Rights Body

On November 7, 2024, the Interim Government of Bangladesh abruptly dismissed all members of its NHRC, including Chairman Kamal Uddin Ahmed and five other members. The alleged reason for their dismissal was a monthly report for October 2024 that highlighted a rise in crimes—including mob beatings, rapes, political harassment, and assaults—under the new administration.

RRAG had filed a formal complaint on November 8, 2024, seeking the immediate suspension of the Bangladesh NHRC’s membership from GANHRI, but the global body has yet to act. The NHRC of Bangladesh currently retains its 'B Status' accreditation with GANHRI despite its non-existence.

Allegations of Double Standards and Compromised Integrity

Suhas Chakma, Director of the RRAG, expressed serious concerns about GANHRI’s integrity and impartiality. “As the GANHRI continues to treat a non-existent NHRC of Bangladesh as one of its members... its entire accreditation process regarding compliance with the Paris Principles is suspect,” he stated in a letter to all Permanent Missions to the United Nations in Geneva.

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Chakma pointed out that GANHRI has previously taken swift action in similar cases, citing the suspension of human rights commissions in Afghanistan (July 2022), and Myanmar, Niger, and the Russian Federation (July 2023).

He further claimed that a scheduled meeting with GANHRI on March 4, 2025, regarding the complaint was aborted at the last minute because the global body failed to provide a meeting venue or contact person.

Alarm Over Escalating Human Rights Violations

The RRAG letter starkly detailed a catalogue of gross human rights violations committed in Bangladesh over the past year in the absence of a functioning NHRC. Key data highlighted in the letter includes:

• Lynching Deaths: An alarming increase of 1,250% in reported lynching deaths under the interim government (August 2024 to July 2025), with at least 637 persons reportedly killed, compared to 51 during the previous government in 2023.

• Destruction of the Justice System: The removal of 21 Supreme Court and High Court judges in addition to the NHRC members.

• Mass Criminal Cases: Criminal cases were filed against a total of 516,327 persons, including both named and unnamed individuals.

• Targeting Journalists: A total of 878 journalists were reportedly targeted.

• Minority Attacks: 2,485 incidents of violence against religious and ethnic minorities were reported.

The letter also documented the effective destruction of the right to freedom of association and assembly for opposition and minority groups. Specific incidents included attacks on Indigenous Peoples during a ‘March For Identity’ in September and the jailing of Hindu priest Chinmoy Das on sedition and murder charges for organising a peaceful protest in October 2024.

Urgent Call for Suspension

Chakma stressed the critical need for an independent human rights institution, especially during a period of such widespread violations. “It is in times like these that a National Human Rights Institution has to exist, but there has not been any NHRI in Bangladesh for the last year,” he stated.

The RRAG concluded its appeal by demanding that GANHRI "must take emergency measures to suspend the NHRC of Bangladesh with immediate effect."