Bangladesh's political climate has taken a concerning turn as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's administration faces accusations of systematically targeting Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus through a series of legal actions, according to a damning new report from Human Rights Watch.
Nobel Winner Under Fire
The 83-year-old microfinance pioneer, celebrated globally for his work combating poverty through Grameen Bank, now finds himself embroiled in multiple court cases that human rights organisations describe as politically motivated. Yunus, a frequent critic of the current government, faces potential imprisonment if convicted on charges his supporters claim are baseless.
Wider Crackdown on Dissent
HRW's report paints a disturbing picture of declining political freedoms in Bangladesh ahead of January's elections. "The government appears determined to neutralise all opposition, whether political parties or independent voices like Dr Yunus," the report states, documenting numerous cases of activists and journalists facing harassment, arbitrary detention, and criminal charges.
International Concern Grows
The targeting of such a high-profile international figure has drawn attention from global leaders and institutions. Analysts suggest the move against Yunus serves as both a warning to domestic critics and a test of how far the international community will tolerate the erosion of democratic norms in Bangladesh.
