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Bangladesh

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

August 2025

Interim government moves forward on draft enforced disappearance law
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On 28 August, the interim government’s Advisory Council granted ‘approval in principle’ to the draft Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Ordinance 2025. The draft ordinance proposes harsher penalties for enforced disappearances and empowers the National Human Rights Commission to investigate these cases, rather than law enforcement agencies.  The ordinance also establishes a special tribunal to handle the prosecutions and trials submitted by the Commission. Other provisions include requiring trials to be completed within 120 days of complaints and offering compensation and legal assistance to victims and their families. While rights experts welcome many provisions, concerns remain regarding the inclusion of the death penalty as a maximum punishment for offenders and the allowance for trials to be held in absentia. The proposed ordinance awaits further discussions before receiving final approval.

Sources: The Daily Star, Fortify RightsThe Financial Express

July 2025

Former Prime Minister sentenced for contempt of court and charged with crimes against humanity
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On 2 July, Bangladesh’s domestic court for crimes against humanity–the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)–sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (in absentia) to six months in prison for contempt of court. The contempt charges stem from a leaked audio recording in which she allegedly dismissed murder charges that had been filed against her. The sentence would take effect upon her arrest or surrender, as Hasina has refused to appear before the court since fleeing the country in 2024. In a separate case, the ICT indicted Hasina and two senior officials on 10 July over crimes against humanity related to the uprisings. The proceedings are scheduled to begin in August.

Sources: BBC News, Al Jazeera, The Dhaka Tribune

May 2025

Interim government bans Awami League activities under anti-terror law

On 12 May, the interim government imposed a temporary ban on the Awami League (AL), former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party, restricting the party’s online and offline political activities, including rallies and protests. The ban, executed under the amended Anti-Terrorism Act, follows protests calling for AL to be designated a terrorist organization. Shortly thereafter, the Election Commission suspended AL’s registration, disqualifying AL from contesting polls. The ban will remain in place until the country’s domestic war crimes tribunal – the International Crimes Tribunal - concludes its trial against the party and its leaders over the deaths from last year’s anti-government protests. The ban also coincides with an ordinance that expands the Tribunal's reach to include collective political organizations, rather than just individuals. Rights experts and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volter Turk have noted that the ban restricts rights rather than promoting accountability in a trial that could potentially last years.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, The Daily Star (1), The Diplomat, International IDEA, The Daily Star (2)

January 2025

High Court judges to be appointed through an independent council

On 21 January, the interim government published the ‘Supreme Court Judge Appointment Ordinance, 2025’ in the Gazette, establishing an independent council led by the Chief Justice to appoint judges to higher courts. Previously, the executive held significant control over judicial appointments, which led to widespread criticism for producing a politicized judiciary. The seven-member council will now include members from the Appellate Division, the High Court and the Attorney General. Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul stated in a press briefing that further initiatives are underway to strengthen judicial independence, including creating a separate judicial secretariat for the Supreme Court and a permanent Attorney Service, aimed at reducing executive influence and addressing past political interference in judicial appointments.

Sources: Dhaka Tribune, BD News, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, International IDEA

Supreme Court acquits former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in graft case

On 15 January, the Supreme Court overturned a 10-year jail sentence for Khaleda Zia, the former prime minister and leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), in a graft case originally handed down by the High Court in 2018. The acquittal extends to all other defendants in that case, including Zia’s son and BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman. The Supreme Court said that the initial proceedings “manifested a contrived misapplication of the law tantamount to malicious prosecution,” in a case that Zia’s supporters alleged was politically motivated. This decision follows Zia’s acquittal in another corruption case after former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted from office in 2024, clearing the way for Zia to contest in the next election.

Sources: The Daily Star, The Associated Press, Jurist

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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2024

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Representation
151/173
Rights
134/173
Rule of Law
106/173
Participation
132/173

Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
171 466 990
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus (interim government since 2024)
Head of government party
Not applicable
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
First Past the Post
Women in lower or single chamber
Suspended
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2024
Head of state
President Mohammed Shahabuddin
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
13/11/2023
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
70.1%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
State Party
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
State Party
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

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Representation neutral Rights
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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

Hover over the trend lines to see the exact data points across the years

Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

Use the slider below to see how democratic performance has changed over time

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