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

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

The interim government, established on 8 August, created several reform commissions to address corruption, the election system, the judiciary, police and the constitution. These commissions will provide reform roadmaps in the next three months, after beginning work in October. Four additional reform commissions have since been announced focused on health, media, labour rights and women affairs. Since August, the interim government has signed the UN Convention on Enforced Disappearances, set up disappearance inquiries, and lifted the previous administration's ban on the Jamaat-E-Islami party. While welcome developments, political analysts have raised concerns regarding the haste of court proceedings against those involved in violence during the uprising and the formation of the reform commissions, urging for transparency and inclusivity.  

Sources: International IDEA, Crisis Group, The Daily Star 

On 7 November, the interim government endorsed the annulment of the Cyber Security Act, which was widely criticized for suppressing free speech, press freedom and political dissent. All cases filed under the act would also be withdrawn. Rights and media experts have welcomed the decision, urging the interim government to provide relief to victims of the Act. The decision to repeal the Cybersecurity Act paves the way for preparing a new Cyber Protection Ordinance law. This proposed law omits seven controversial provisions from the previous Act, including hate, misinformation and defamatory propaganda penalties.

Update: The interim government’s advisory council approved the draft Cyber Protection ordinance on 24 December. However, civil society members have criticized the draft for retaining vague definitions similar to those of its predecessors, which could lead to misuse. The interim government has also been accused of failing to conduct meaningful consultations beforehand, allowing only three days for comment. In response, the interim government uploaded an amended version of the draft ordinance to its website and reopened the commenting period from 22 January to 6 February 2025.

Sources: International IDEA , Dhaka Tribune, The Daily Star, Prothomalo, Article 19, The Daily Star

On 5 August, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina abruptly resigned and fled the country after weeks of student-led protests against a controversial government job quota scheme introduced in July. Initially peaceful, the protests descended into violence amid a harsh crackdown by authorities and evolved into anti-government demonstrations. On 5 August, protesters defied a military curfew and stormed Hasina’s residence, prompting her departure when military forces refused to intervene. The President dissolved Parliament the next day, paving the way for forming an interim government. On 8 August, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser (a position comparable to the prime minister)– a key demand from protesters. The interim government said general elections would be held after essential reforms were made to state institutions. The interim cabinet members –considered advisors rather than ministers - were selected in consultation with student leaders, the military and civil society representatives. 

Sources: International IDEA, Al Jazeera, OHCHR, East Asia Forum, Deutsche Welle, The Daily Star 

On 7 August, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and three senior Grameen Bank officials were acquitted of a labour law conviction initially handed down in January. The acquittal came just a day before Yunus was sworn in as Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor for the interim government following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation amid nationwide protests.  Shortly after, Yunus and 13 others were also cleared in a graft case brought by the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission. Both cases were widely seen as politically motivated, facilitated by legal pressure from the previous government, which viewed Yunus as a political rival. Similarly, on 6 August, another one of Hasina’s political adversaries, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, had her 2018 corruption conviction overturned by presidential decree. The timing and context surrounding these acquittals remain unclear. 

Sources: International IDEA, The Daily Star, Time Magazine, Al Jazeera 

In July, student-led protests erupted in response to government efforts to reinstate quotas in civil service jobs for relatives of veterans from the country’s independence war. The students argued that this system was discriminatory and called for merit-based recruitment. On 21 July, the Supreme Court ruled that only five per cent of public sector jobs could be reserved, significantly reducing the initial 30 per cent quota. In response to the protests, Bangladeshi authorities initiated a nationwide internet shutdown that lasted 11 days and enforced a curfew with an order that permitted officers to use firearms against mobs in extreme cases. According to United Nations officials, nearly 650 people have been killed, with thousands reportedly detained. The escalating violence prompted protesters to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several other ruling party ministers. United Nations experts condemned the excessive force used against protesters, labelling it as “unlawful killings,” and called for an independent investigation into the government’s actions.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, OHCHR (1), Access Now, The Daily Star (1), The Daily Star (2), BBC News, Al Jazeera, OHCHR (2)