HandinHand Foundation

31/12/2025

Warm New Year greetings. May the coming year bring meaningful progress, shared achievements, and continued success in all our endeavors.

07/12/2025

A high-level meeting was held with the European Commission’s European External Action Service (EEAS) human rights desk, led by Mr. Ognyan Karastamatov, along with the EU EEAS South Asian representative, Ms. Lene Villadsen, to address growing concerns regarding human rights violations in Bangladesh. The session was facilitated by a Brussels-based policy think tank and attended by the secretary general of the Hand in Hand Foundation, Mr. AFM Golam Zilani, who led the delegation.

The meeting included the presence of barrister Mr. Nijhum Muzomder, as well as prominent Bangladesh community leaders Lafit Shahid, Golam Mostafa, Sydul Karim Mazumder, and Mr. Jakub Zientala.

Delegates raised urgent concerns regarding the deteriorating human rights environment in Bangladesh, citing cases of minority persecution, politically motivated extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests of journalists, and the detention of opposition political leaders and members of the student wing. Discussions highlighted the shrinking civic space and the continued pressure faced by rights advocates and independent media.

During the meeting, the delegation delivered a formal rebuttal to the recent United Nations Human Rights fact-finding report, arguing that several of its conclusions lacked contextual depth and failed to reflect ground realities. The participants stressed the need for transparent investigation processes, international engagement, and stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure protection for vulnerable groups and political dissenters.

The European Commission representatives acknowledged the issues raised and reiterated the EU’s stated commitment to human rights, democratic freedoms, and rule of law in Bangladesh and South Asia.

The Hand in Hand Foundation stated that further consultations will continue with international partners, diaspora representatives, and human rights institutions to address the ongoing crisis and advocate for tangible reform.

06/10/2025

speak to draw urgent attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh, marked by persistent violations of fundamental freedoms, erosion of democratic principles, and disregard for the rule of law.

Despite being a State Party to core international human rights treaties, Bangladesh continues to face credible allegations of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and torture in custody. Human rights defenders, journalists, opposition figures, and dissenting voices face intimidation and criminalization under restrictive laws such as the Digital Security Act and the Cyber Security Act. These laws have been widely criticized for suppressing free expression and silencing civil society.

The justice system remains compromised by political influence, delayed processes, and a lack of accountability for security forces. Victims and their families are often denied effective remedies, further entrenching a culture of impunity.

Democratic participation has been severely undermined since the 5th of August, 2024, under the Yunus regime.

We urge the Government of Bangladesh to:

End impunity by conducting transparent, independent investigations into allegations of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture, and holding perpetrators accountable.

Uphold fundamental freedoms by repealing or amending legislation that restricts freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly.

Ensure judicial independence and guarantee access to justice and effective remedies for victims of human rights violations.

Restore democratic space by ensuring inclusive, participatory political processes, free from intimidation, arbitrary detention, and violence.

Engage constructively with UN human rights mechanisms, including special rapporteurs, treaty bodies, and the Universal Periodic Review process.

We call on the Human Rights Council, Member States, and the wider international community to monitor developments closely and to support efforts aimed at restoring the rule of law, protecting fundamental freedoms, and enabling a democratic environment in Bangladesh.

The voices of victims, civil society, and marginalized communities must not be silenced. Genuine accountability and inclusive governance are essential to the stability and dignity of all people in Bangladesh.
United Nations Human Rights UNHCR, the UN Refugee AgencyEuropean CommissionEuropean Union in Bangladesh

24/12/2024

This holiday season, we celebrate our team’s dedication. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

01/12/2024

01/12/2024

Effective leadership, as Covey suggests, determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall. In the context of AI, leaders need vision to identify the right opportunities for AI implementation and ensure those opportunities align with the organization's overall goals