Gus Atkinson has become the third England pace bowler to be ruled out of the Ashes series after confirmation he will miss the final Test against Australia in Sydney. Atkinson suffered an injury to his left hamstring on the second and final morning of England's win in the fourth Test in Melbourne
'Misused': Legal Rights Body Questions Bangladesh's Justice System After Hasina Verdict
'Misused': Legal Rights Body Questions Bangladesh's Justice System After Hasina Verdict
The International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) raised alarm over the state of due process in Bangladesh, warning that recent in-absentia convictions of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her niece, UK MP Tulip Siddiq, point to a justice system vulnerable to political misuse during the country's transition period.
In a strongly worded statement, IBAHRI said the interim administration must ensure that accountability for past abuses is pursued through independent and impartial proceedings, not trials that risk being perceived as retaliatory.
IBAHRI Director Baroness Helena Kennedy said the developments suggest “the justice system in Bangladesh is being used to advance unfair or politically influenced trials," adding that fair-trial guarantees remain mandatory “even during political transition or states of emergency."
On 17 November 2025, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal handed death sentences to Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal for alleged crimes against humanity linked to the 2024 crackdown on student protesters.
IBAHRI reiterated its blanket opposition to capital punishment and warned that any sentence delivered without full due-process guarantees risks violating international law.
A legal team representing Hasina has already filed an urgent appeal with the UN Special Procedures, citing a lack of formal charge notification, denial of counsel of her choosing, and the appointment of a state lawyer “with whom she has had no communication."
The petition argues that executing a sentence handed down after such a trial would amount to a “summary execution" under Article 6 of the ICCPR.
Parallel concerns emerged after a Bangladesh court issued a two-year jail term in absentia against Tulip Siddiq in a corruption case involving the alleged irregular allotment of a land plot. Siddiq maintains she was never officially informed of the charges, while her chosen lawyer reported harassment, movement restrictions, and being placed under effective house arrest.
A group of senior UK legal experts wrote to Bangladesh's High Commission in London, calling the proceedings “contrived" and raising questions about the legitimacy of the trial.
The legal turbulence follows Bangladesh's 2024 student uprising, during which more than 1,400 people were killed, according to a UN report.
The Awami League government collapsed soon after, prompting Sheikh Hasina to flee the country. The installation of a caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus initially raised expectations of a rights-focused reset.
However, IBAHRI warns that recent court actions “signal democratic regression," suggesting that the judicial process risks becoming an instrument for settling political scores.
Calling on Bangladesh to uphold its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the organisation stressed that trials must be conducted by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal, a principle enshrined both in Bangladesh's Constitution and in UN guidelines on judicial independence.
IBAHRI Co-Chair Mark Stephens said reports of intimidation of defence lawyers, as seen in Siddiq's case, “strike at the heart of the right to a fair trial," urging the interim government to ensure lawyers can operate free of threats or interference.
He added that Bangladesh should immediately halt executions, establish a moratorium on the death penalty, and commit to permanent abolition.
Source: News18
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Gus Atkinson has become the third England pace bowler to be ruled out of the Ashes series after confirmation he will miss the final Test against Australia in Sydney. Atkinson suffered an injury to his left hamstring on the second and final morning of England's win in the fourth Test in Melbourne
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