This volume arises from a moment of cataclysmic rupture in Bangladesh’s recent history. The sequence of events since 5 August 2024 has not merely disrupted the distribution of power; it has unsettled the foundations on which the state’s legitimacy rests.
Drawing on verified case files, court records, testimony and open-source data, the report traces how an unelected interim administration consolidated authority, reshaped institutions and narrowed the space for dissent. It documents the human cost — in lives, livelihoods and rights — and sets out what credible recovery would require.
What the report covers
- The constitutional and legal questions raised by the transition.
- The treatment of the press, the judiciary and political opposition.
- The safety of minorities and women during the interim period.
- Recommendations for restoring democratic legitimacy and the rule of law.
Legitimacy is not conferred by control of the machinery of state; it is earned through the consent of the governed, freely and fairly expressed.
Why it matters now
With a contested national vote approaching, the questions this report raises are no longer academic. The integrity of the 2026 process — who may stand, who may observe, and who counts the result — will determine whether Bangladesh returns to a credible democratic path.