An updated report documents the legal manoeuvring, political crackdowns, and the controversial use of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) and anti-terrorism laws following the July-August 2024 political events in Bangladesh. Published by the Global Center for Democratic Governance (GCDG), the publication examines how the interim administration bypassed standard due process, implemented pre-emptive bans on political parties without trial, and challenged foundational constitutional guarantees.
Key figures and overview
As stated in the report:
- Historical Context: Compares contemporary prosecutions with historical crackdowns, noting that past political unrest and protest-related deaths under military and democratic regimes were handled under ordinary criminal law rather than framed as crimes against humanity.
- Legal Amendments: Highlights the dual amendment of the ICT Act in February and May 2025, which introduced sweeping powers under Section 20B to ban, suspend, or dismantle political organisations based on executive discretion.
- Administrative Bans: Details SRO No. 137-Law/2025 issued on May 12, 2025, which suspended all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League and its allied wings prior to any formal trial verdicts.
What the report covers
The report outlines various dimensions of the crisis through detailed thematic sections:
- The Legacy of Political Crackdowns: Reviews historical political crackdowns in Bangladesh from 1983 through various democratic and military administrations, examining patterns of state-enforced repression.
- Politicised Prosecution and Due Process Undone: Analyzes how the student-backed interim government framed democratic protests as crimes against humanity and bypassed independent judicial assessment to ban political parties administratively.
- Superseding Legislative Precedence: Discusses the conflict between the Political Parties Ordinance (PPO) 1978—which mandates High Court Division oversight for banning political parties—and the unilateral executive powers exercised under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 2009.
- Blanket Censorship and Constitutional Rights: Examines how amended provisions under ATA 2009 created a comprehensive censorship regime, restricting public speeches, press statements, and freedom of expression.
- Retrospective Criminal Effect: Explores constitutional violations under Article 35(1) regarding retroactive criminal legislation and the dangers of weaponizing laws against past political conduct.
Calls for action
The report underscores that replacing trials with executive assumptions and restricting fundamental rights paves a dangerous road toward repression. It emphasizes that laws in a democracy should protect rights rather than silence opposition, calling for the strict preservation of due process, judicial independence, and constitutional governance.
Read the Full Report
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Report details
- Title: The Political Abuse of the International Crimes Tribunal for the Trial of the July-August Happenings
- Prepared and published by: Global Center for Democratic Governance (GCDG)
- Published date: 24 July 2025
The findings, allegations and opinions in this report are those of its publisher.
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