JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the human rights situation in Bangladesh, notably the case of Odhikar
13.9.2023 - (2023/2833(RSP))
replacing the following motions:
B9‑0378/2023 (The Left)
B9‑0380/2023 (Verts/ALE)
B9‑0381/2023 (Renew)
B9‑0382/2023 (S&D)
B9‑0383/2023 (PPE)
B9‑0384/2023 (ECR)
Ivan Štefanec, Tomáš Zdechovský, David Lega, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Janina Ochojska, Vladimír Bilčík, Andrey Kovatchev, Vangelis Meimarakis, Michaela Šojdrová, Eugen Tomac, Jiří Pospíšil, Peter Pollák, Inese Vaidere
on behalf of the PPE Group
Pedro Marques, Karsten Lucke, Carina Ohlsson
on behalf of the S&D Group
Katalin Cseh, Petras Auštrevičius, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Dita Charanzová, Bernard Guetta, Svenja Hahn, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Karen Melchior, Urmas Paet, Dragoş Pîslaru, María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos, Ramona Strugariu, Dragoş Tudorache, Hilde Vautmans, Frédérique Ries
on behalf of the Renew Group
Heidi Hautala, Hannah Neumann
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Anna Fotyga, Karol Karski, Angel Dzhambazki, Ryszard Czarnecki, Bogdan Rzońca, Elżbieta Rafalska, Assita Kanko, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński, Witold Jan Waszczykowski, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Anna Zalewska, Adam Bielan, Eugen Jurzyca, Elżbieta Kruk, Carlo Fidanza
on behalf of the ECR Group
Marisa Matias
on behalf of The Left Group
Fabio Massimo Castaldo
European Parliament resolution on the human rights situation in Bangladesh, notably the case of Odhikar
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rules 144(5) and 132(4) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the human rights situation in Bangladesh has severely deteriorated, including with regard to extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, freedom of expression and workers’ rights;
B. whereas Odhikar, a leading human rights organisation, has faced over a decade of harassment and criminalisation, including being deregistered as an NGO; whereas two Odhikar leaders, Adilur Rahman Khan and ASM Nasiruddin Elan, face trumped-up criminal charges, with a ruling scheduled for 14 September 2023; whereas the failure to follow due process in the case has drawn widespread condemnation;
C. whereas UN bodies and the High Commissioner for Human Rights have condemned the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and Bangladeshi judiciary for persistently intimidating and harassing human rights defenders (HRDs) and civil society activists, including when such figures engage with the UN;
1. Expresses deep concern at the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh; insists that the GoB restore a safe and enabling environment for NGOs, HRDs, activists and religious minorities and uphold the country’s international commitments, particularly under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;
2. Urges the GoB to immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against Odhikar’s representatives and reinstate its registration, and to ensure that civil society organisations can access approved foreign grants;
3. Encourages the GoB to cooperate with the UN on establishing a specialised mechanism to investigate the allegations of enforced disappearances; insists that international observers be permitted to attend court hearings;
4. Recalls that an Everything but Arms (EBA) enhanced engagement process remains ongoing with Bangladesh owing to its serious violations of international conventions; is concerned that the Odhikar case is a regrettable step back, bearing consequences as to whether EBA preferences continue to apply to Bangladesh;
5. Is appalled by the violent murder of the trade unionist Shahidul Islam in June 2023 and calls for those responsible to be brought to justice;
6. Urges the GoB to comply with core International Labour Organization standards and implement its labour roadmap, as per its commitment within the enhanced engagement process;
7. Calls again on the GoB to repeal the Digital Security Act and encourages it to adopt cybersecurity legislation that fully complies with international standards;
8. Is concerned by the mass arrests of opposition representatives and the excessive use of force against protesters in Bangladesh; calls on the GoB to guarantee the conditions for free, fair and participatory elections in 2024; underlines that unhindered domestic and international observation is a key international standard;
9. Calls on the European External Action Service, the EU Delegation and the Member States’ embassies in Bangladesh to raise human rights concerns at the highest levels and increase their support for local HRDs, union workers and journalists under attack, including by monitoring trials;
10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Government and Parliament of Bangladesh.