A delegation of former Bangladesh Awami League lawmakers and leaders met Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Billy Kelleher in Ireland on Monday, 9 June, urging the European Parliament to support the lifting of sanctions imposed on the party and the release of detained members. The meeting comes as the crackdown on Awami League figures inside Bangladesh continues to escalate, according to local media reports.

What the Delegation Sought

The Awami League representatives called on the European Parliament to help restore what they described as a 'fair political and democratic atmosphere' and an improvement in the human rights situation in Bangladesh. The delegation specifically sought support for the withdrawal of sanctions and the securing of bail for party ministers, members of parliament, and activists held in cases they characterised as 'politically motivated.'

Those present at the meeting included MEP Billy Kelleher, a former Irish minister; former Awami League MP Md Habibe Millat; Ireland Chhatra League President Noman Chowdhury; Ireland Awami League leader Rafiq Khan; and Radin Khan, chairman of the student wing of Fianna Fáil, according to Times of Bangladesh.

Key Issues Raised with the MEP

Former MP Millat briefed Kelleher on a range of concerns, including the current law and order situation in Bangladesh, the killing of police officers, incidents of mob violence, human rights abuses, a reported surge in militancy, and what the delegation called a culture of impunity. Kelleher acknowledged the concerns and indicated his intention to raise them within the European Parliament and pursue diplomatic pressure on the Bangladeshi government through formal channels.

International Rights Body Condemns Mass Arrests

Separately, Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a leading international human rights organisation, strongly condemned what it described as 'arbitrary mass arrests, politically motivated cases, judicial harassment,' and the alleged misuse of Bangladesh's Anti-Terrorism Act against Awami League members.

Citing media reports and sources, JMBF said at least 333 leaders, activists, and supporters of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations were arrested in operations conducted across different parts of Bangladesh between 1 and 7 June. Cases were reportedly filed against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act and other stringent laws, after which they were imprisoned.

'These measures are not merely isolated law-and-order actions; rather, they form part of a systematic campaign of repression aimed at suppressing political opposition, intimidating dissenting voices, and restricting democratic political activities,' JMBF stated.

Call for International Monitoring

JMBF called on the United Nations, the European Union, international human rights organisations, and diplomatic missions to closely monitor the ongoing situation in Bangladesh — including arbitrary mass arrests, politically motivated prosecutions, judicial harassment, and restrictions on freedom of expression — and to take effective measures to protect human rights.

The organisation said the individuals targeted were exercising their constitutional rights to participate in peaceful rallies, assemblies, and political expression, and that the actions constitute 'a serious assault on democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental human rights' in Bangladesh.

Broader Context

This is the latest in a series of international outreach efforts by Awami League figures since the party's political fortunes shifted in Bangladesh. The delegation's appeal to European lawmakers signals a broader strategy of seeking multilateral pressure as domestic legal and political space for the party reportedly narrows. How the European Parliament responds — and whether other diplomatic missions follow — will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.