The Bangladesh Students’ League (BSL), the student wing of the Awami League, has called for the country’s next general election, scheduled for February 12, 2026, to be conducted under a neutral administrative arrangement, asserting that only an inclusive and impartial process can restore political stability and democratic order in Bangladesh.
In a strongly worded statement, the organisation appealed to the international community to engage constructively and ensure that the upcoming polls are free, fair and credible.
It said the prevailing political and security situation in the country had made a neutral administration essential for safeguarding democratic norms and preventing further instability.
The BSL accused the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus of presiding over what it described as a breakdown of constitutional governance, alleging that law and order had deteriorated sharply amid rising extremism and unchecked violence.
The student body claimed that Bangladesh was witnessing an alarming surge in mob attacks, arson, enforced disappearances and killings, which it said were part of a broader pattern rather than isolated incidents.
According to the organisation, the violence followed the removal of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in mid-2024 and marked a shift from constitutional rule to what it termed organised mob domination, characterised by fear and impunity.
The BSL alleged that attacks on media houses, cultural institutions, minority communities, political organisations and national symbols indicated a systematic erosion of lawful governance.
The group also condemned recent arson attacks on the offices of leading Bangladeshi newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, describing them as direct assaults on press freedom.
It highlighted an alleged attempt to set fire to The Daily Star building while journalists were still inside and claimed that the harassment of New Age editor Nurul Kabir reflected a broader pattern of intimidation against independent voices.
Raising concern over communal violence, the BSL referred to the killing of a Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh district, alleging that he was beaten to death under a false accusation of blasphemy and that his body was later burned.
The organisation said the incident underscored a complete failure of the state to protect minorities and uphold basic human rights.
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The statement also cited repeated attacks on Indian diplomatic premises in cities including Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi and Khulna, mentioning stone-pelting incidents and the arson attack on the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre in August 2024, followed by renewed threats later in the year.
Such acts, it said, violated international diplomatic conventions and reflected a dangerous tolerance of mob violence.
Additionally, the BSL alleged that leaders and activists of the Awami League were facing mass arrests while extremist groups were being tacitly supported, further undermining the rule of law.
Warning that the country was being pushed towards prolonged instability, the organisation reiterated its demand for a neutral administration to oversee the 2026 elections as a prerequisite for restoring democracy and public confidence.
