Senior US lawmakers have warned Bangladesh’s interim government that free and fair elections cannot be held if political participation is restricted ahead of the country’s scheduled February polls, raising alarm over the suspension of political party activities and concerns about democratic backsliding.

In a letter addressed to Dr Mohammed Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, influential members of the US Congress urged Dhaka to work across the political spectrum to restore confidence in democratic institutions during the transition period. The letter was led by Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Bill Huizenga, and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, and co-signed by Julie Johnson and Thomas R. Suozzi.

The lawmakers welcomed Yunus’s decision to assume leadership at a critical juncture but cautioned that the credibility of the upcoming election would depend on whether the interim administration ensured inclusive political participation.

“It is vital that the interim government work with parties across the political spectrum to create the conditions for free and fair elections that allow the voice of the Bangladeshi people to be expressed peacefully through the ballot box,” the lawmakers wrote. They added that reforms were also needed to restore public confidence in the integrity and nonpartisanship of state institutions.

The Congressmen expressed deep concern that these conditions could not be achieved if the government continued to suspend political party activities or revived the International Crimes Tribunal in its previous form. Such steps, they warned, risked undermining trust in the electoral process at a sensitive moment for the country.

Referencing assessments by the US Department of State and international observers, the lawmakers noted that Bangladesh’s 2018 and 2024 general elections were widely criticised as “not free or fair.” They stressed that the upcoming vote offered an opportunity to demonstrate a clear break from past practices that had drawn international concern.

The letter also cited a February report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which estimated that security forces killed around 1,400 people during protests in July and August 2024. The lawmakers emphasised that accountability for these deaths should reflect democratic values rather than perpetuate cycles of retaliation.

“Genuine accountability for these acts and others should model the values of Bangladesh’s democracy,” the letter said.

A key issue highlighted by the lawmakers was the suspension of a political party’s activities. They argued that freedom of association and the principle of individual—not collective—criminal responsibility are fundamental human rights. Fully suspending a political party, rather than prosecuting individuals through due process, they said, was inconsistent with those principles.

Urging Yunus or a future elected government to reconsider the decision, the lawmakers stressed that inclusive political participation was essential to restoring public trust. “Ultimately, the Bangladeshi people deserve to choose an elected government in a free and fair election in which all political parties can participate,” they wrote.

The letter also underscored the broader bilateral relationship, describing Bangladesh as a “critical partner for the United States.” The lawmakers said they stood ready to engage with the interim government to support both democratic transition and the strengthening of US–Bangladesh ties.

In a related development, Representative Thomas R. Suozzi separately wrote to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeking briefings on the safety of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Citing reports of violence against Hindu minorities and concerns over the misuse of blasphemy laws, Suozzi requested official briefings to address concerns raised by Bangladeshi-American constituents.