TDS Desk:

A group of 43 Australian senators and members of parliament have sent a letter to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, calling for urgent action on three key issues—announcing a clear electoral roadmap, ensuring justice for victims of the July uprising and disbanding the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

The letter was delivered to the interim government chief via email, BNP’s International Affairs Secretary Md Rashedul Haque confirmed on Wednesday.

“We, the undersigned Australian senators and MPs, wish to express our support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition. We urge you to immediately announce a definitive electoral roadmap, ensure justice for the victims of the July uprising, and support justice for those harmed by the Rapid Action Battalion,” the letter states.

The lawmakers noted the “courage and determination” demonstrated by the Bangladeshi people during the July Revolution and called it a historic opportunity for the interim administration to restore democracy, uphold human rights, and rebuild public trust in governance.

They further asserted that Bangladesh’s future stability hinges on “the urgent declaration of a transparent and credible electoral process.” Referring to the previous three elections as lacking legitimacy, the signatories urged the interim government to “announce as soon as possible a roadmap for free, fair, and internationally supervised elections.”

“The Australian Bangladeshi community expects this to take place within the calendar year and insists on a level playing field for all political parties,” the letter adds, also stressing the need to prevent misuse of executive power and repression.

The letter also presses for justice and accountability following years of political violence. Citing reports from Human Rights Watch, Reuters, and the United Nations, the letter claims over a thousand people were killed and thousands more injured under the previous government’s crackdown.

“We have received multiple appeals from the Australian Bangladeshi community demanding truth, justice, and compensation for victims and their families,” the letter says, calling for “independent and transparent investigations” into those incidents.

Specifically, the letter demands the disbanding of RAB, stating, “RAB has been implicated in serious human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture. According to Human Rights Watch, since 2009 RAB has unlawfully killed over 2,699 people while operating with impunity.”

The signatories noted that the United States has already sanctioned RAB’s leadership and urged the Australian government to consider similar measures. They emphasised that the Australian Bangladeshi community strongly supports disbanding RAB and securing justice for its victims.