A group of 41 Australian lawmakers have urged Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus to publicly announce an electoral roadmap and ensure justice for victims of both the "Monsoon Revolution" and alleged abuses by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab).
In a letter sent today, the MPs emphasised that the next steps of the interim government are being closely watched both domestically and internationally.
"We urge your administration to immediately and publicly announce a specific, time-bound electoral roadmap. This is an urgent and non-negotiable step toward ensuring credible, transparent, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh," the lawmakers wrote.
They said that "delays or ambiguity at this stage will only deepen public distrust and jeopardise the country's democratic future."
"We call on your leadership to act decisively. We are prepared to engage constructively to support this essential step toward restoring democratic legitimacy," the letter said.
The MPs include senators Larissa Waters, David Shoebridge, Jordon Steele-John, Fatima Payman, Lidia Thorpe, Penny Allman-Payne, Mehreen Faruqi, Steph Hodgins-May, Barbara Pocock, Peter Whish-Wilson, Dorinda Cox, Nick McKim, Sarah Hanson-Young, Elizabeth Watson-Brown, Abigail Boyd, Amanda Cohn, Katherine Copsey, Sue Higginson, Cate Faehrmann, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Aiv Puglielli, Dr Sarah Mansfield, among others.
The letter comes nearly ten months after the interim government was formed, which had indicated the next national election would be held between December 2025 and June 2026. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party continues to demand polls at the earliest, while the newly-formed National Citizen Party says there should be comprehensive reforms before the elections.
When contacted, the Australian High Commission in Dhaka acknowledged the letter, stating, "As a part of Australia's robust democracy, parliamentarians regularly engage with members of the community and advocate on their behalf, including with foreign governments. The letter does not reflect Australian government policy."
The Australian MPs said they recognise the bravery shown by the people of Bangladesh in the "Monsoon Revolution, which has given his administration an historic opportunity to restore democracy, uphold human rights, and rebuild public trust in governance."
They said Bangladesh's path to stability and democratic legitimacy hinges on a transparent and credible electoral process.
The past three elections in Bangladesh did not have the legitimacy needed for a stable, democratic government, the letter said, adding that it was important to restore electoral integrity and ensure a peaceful democratic transition.
They urged Prof Yunus to announce a clear election roadmap for free, fair, and internationally monitored elections as soon as practically possible.
The Australian MPs said the Bangladeshi community in Australia had expressed hopes that elections would be held within this calendar year.
The letter also noted that like "so many people around the world" they were inspired by the bravery of the students and ordinary citizens of Bangladesh who made the Monsoon Revolution happen.
Citing reports from Human Rights Watch, Reuters, and the United Nations, they noted that "over thousands of people were killed and tens of thousands injured" during the uprising. "This victory came at an immense human cost," the letter reads.
They have also asked for a process of truth, justice, and reparations to the victims and their families.
The MPs also called for immediate disbandment of Rab, saying repeated human rights reviews have highlighted the force's involvement in severe human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and torture.
According to Human Rights Watch, over 2,699 people have been unlawfully killed by Rab since 2009, and the force has operated with complete impunity, silencing dissent and targeting political opponents.
"We have noted with support the sanctions applied by the US government on the leadership of the Rab and we have called on the Australian government to take similar action," they said, adding, "Again we note the request form the Australian Bangladesh community for your administration to dismantle the Rab and provide justice for its victims."
