Van Hollen, Doggett, Lead Members in Urging Sanctions on Former Bangladeshi Officials Over Human Rights Violations

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) led a group of colleagues in urging the Biden Administration to impose targeted sanctions on former senior Bangladeshi officials responsible for violence against peaceful student protestors.

“The use of violent force against peaceful protesters exercising their freedom of expression is an unacceptable violation of human rights. The Bangladeshi leaders who orchestrated this brutal crackdown must be held accountable, which is why we’re calling upon the Administration to sanction General Secretary Quader and Home Affairs Minister Khan, as we continue working to support a peaceful and democratic Bangladesh,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“Now is the time for bold action, not just another tepid expression of concern. Our support of fundamental human rights must apply to those in countries with which we have a friendly relationship as much as to those with which we do not,” said Rep. Doggett. “While greatly encouraged by the naming of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead the new interim government, those responsible for so much recent repression and so many deaths should be sanctioned.” 

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “On July 15, the ruling Awami League deployed the police and paramilitary forces to suppress students peacefully protesting unfair quotas in government jobs. Over the next week, security forces used disproportionate, unlawful force and fired rubber bullets, pellet guns, sound grenades, tear gas, and live rounds against student protestors. These violations were part of a broader crackdown on dissent by the Awami League, whose leaders have not been held to account for their human rights abuses. Although Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned, the need for accountability remains. We urge you to impose targeted sanctions on the Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan under all applicable authorities, including the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.”

The lawmakers continued, “As Home Affairs Minister, Khan bears responsibility for the conduct of the police and Border Guard Bangladesh, the two agencies responsible for most of the violence. General Secretary Quader, meanwhile, sent the Awami League's student wing, the Chhatra League, to attack peaceful protesters and issued “shoot-on-sight” orders. It is estimated that at least 200 people were killed and thousands injured, with the real figures likely much higher.”

Additional signers include Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Representatives James P. McGovern (D-Mass.), William R. Keating (D-Mass), Al Green (D-Texas).

Read the letter below or view it in full here.

Dear Secretary Blinken and Secretary Yellen:

We write to express our serious concern regarding the human rights violations perpetrated by the former government of Bangladesh. On July 15, the ruling Awami League deployed the police and paramilitary forces to suppress students peacefully protesting unfair quotas in government jobs. Over the next week, security forces used disproportionate, unlawful force and fired rubber bullets, pellet guns, sound grenades, tear gas, and live rounds against student protestors. These violations were part of a broader crackdown on dissent by the Awami League, whose leaders have not been held to account for their human rights abuses. Although Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has resigned, the need for accountability remains. We urge you to impose targeted sanctions on the Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan under all applicable authorities, including the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

Following the violent crackdown on July 15, Prime Minister Hasina imposed a nationwide curfew and digital communications blackout, which the UN Human Rights Council deems a violation of international human rights law. As Home Affairs Minister, Khan bears responsibility for the conduct of the police and Border Guard Bangladesh, the two agencies responsible for most of the violence. General Secretary Quader, meanwhile, sent the Awami League's student wing, the Chhatra League, to attack peaceful protesters and issued “shoot-on-sight” orders. It is estimated that at least 200 people were killed and thousands injured, with the real figures likely much higher. The police detained student protest leaders, arrested more than 10,000 people, and accused 200,000 of various crimes in what Amnesty International called a “witch hunt.” Human Rights Watch warned that Bangladeshi authorities may once again engage in extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances.

On August 4, the Awami League brutally suppressed revived protests that demanded Prime Minister Hasina resign. General Secretary Quader and Home Minister Khan again deployed security forces and the Chhatra League to attack peaceful protestors, and nearly 100 people died in the resulting violence. Prime Minister Hasina re-imposed a nationwide curfew and communications blackout, with Bangladeshi Americans once more unable to reach their loved ones.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, now leading Bangladesh’s interim government, urgently called on world leaders to end the violence against protestors in Bangladesh. Former Army Chief Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan urged the government to cease engaging its armed forces in a “disgraceful campaign.” While Hasina has resigned and fled the country, senior leaders of the Awami League have faced no consequences for their gross violations of human rights. U.S. sanctions on Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion have been successful in decreasing extrajudicial killings, but they are insufficient given current realities. We urge you to respond strongly to the Awami League’s violations by using all applicable authorities to impose targeted sanctions on General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan. U.S. law requires action in the face of gross violations of human rights.