On Wednesday (May 21), 43 Senators and Members of Parliament from Australia sent an important letter to Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government, raising several key issues.

The letter highlights three main demands:

1. The immediate announcement of a clear electoral roadmap,

2. Justice for the victims of the July uprising,

3. The disbandment of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

The letter stresses that any delay or ambiguity in addressing these issues will only deepen public distrust and endanger the democratic future of the country. It adds that both the people of Bangladesh and the international community are closely monitoring the situation. The signatories urged the Chief Advisor to take decisive actions in leadership. They also expressed readiness to engage constructively to support the necessary steps towards the restoration of democratic legitimacy. The letter was sent via email to the Chief Advisor, and this was confirmed by BNP's International Affairs Secretary, Md. Rashedul Haque. A copy of the letter was also received by Kalbela.

In the letter to Dr. Yunus, the Australian lawmakers state, "We, the undersigned Australian Senators and Members of Parliament, wish to share our expectations for supporting Bangladesh’s democratic progress. Therefore, we call upon you to immediately announce a specific electoral roadmap, ensure justice for the victims of the July uprising, and support justice for those harmed by the actions of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)."

The letter continues, "We commend the courage and bravery of the people of Bangladesh during last year's July uprising. It has given your administration a historic opportunity to restore democracy, uphold human rights, and rebuild public trust in governance."

The letter emphasizes that the stability and democratic environment of Bangladesh depend on the urgent announcement of a clear electoral roadmap and a transparent, credible electoral process. The past three elections in Bangladesh lacked the necessary legitimacy for a stable, democratic government. The letter urges the interim government to ensure the restoration of electoral integrity and the peaceful democratic transition by taking the following steps:

“Please announce a clear electoral roadmap as soon as possible for free, fair, and internationally supervised elections. The Australian Bangladesh community has informed us that they expect this to happen within this calendar year, and that equal opportunities must be created for all political parties. The executive's use and unwarranted influence or repression must be prevented.”

The letter further adds, "We hope that Bangladesh will incorporate these changes, empower its community, and take its rightful place as a partner and friend of democracy worldwide. Like many around the world, we are inspired by the courage shown by the students and common citizens of Bangladesh, who were able to bring about the July uprising. However, this victory came at a huge human cost."

The letter also mentions, “Reports from Human Rights Watch, Reuters, and the United Nations indicate that over the years, the previous government’s brutal repression resulted in the deaths of over a thousand people and thousands of injuries.”

The Australian lawmakers have received multiple petitions from the Australian-Bangladeshi community. They have requested that the government hold an independent and transparent investigation into the political violence of the past and hold the perpetrators accountable. They also demand a process of truth, justice, and compensation for the victims and their families.

Regarding the disbandment of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the letter states, "Human rights reviews have highlighted that RAB has been involved in extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and torture, which are serious violations of human rights. According to Human Rights Watch, since 2009, RAB has killed more than 2,699 people illegally, and the force has operated with total impunity, silencing dissent and targeting political opponents."

The letter supports the U.S. government’s sanctions on RAB leadership and calls on the Australian government to take similar steps. It also notes the repeated requests from the Australian-Bangladeshi community for the disbandment of RAB and the provision of justice for its victims.

The letter concludes by urging the interim government to immediately announce a clear, time-bound electoral roadmap in public. This is deemed an urgent and non-negotiable step to ensure credible, transparent, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh.

The Australian Senators and MPs who signed the letter include Senator Larissa Waters, Senator David Shoebridge, Senator Jordan Steel-John, Senator Fatima Payman, Senator Lydia Thorpe, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Senator Stef Huggins-May, Senator Barbara Pocock, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Senator Dorinda Cox, Senator Nick McKim, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown, MP Abigail Boyd (NSW MLC), Amanda Cohen, Catherine Copsey (MLC), Sue Higgins (NSW MLC), Kate Fehrmann (NSW MLC), Anassina Grey-Barberio (MLC), Ivy Puglielli (MLC), Dr. Sarah Mansfield (MLC), Brad Pettit (MLC), Jenny Leong (NSW MP), Tamara Smith (NSW MP), Kobi Shetty (NSW MP), Tim Reed MP, Ellen Sandel MP, Michael Berkman MP, Gabriel De Vietri MP, Dr. Rosalie Woodruff MP, Tabatha Beyzar MP, Cecily Rosal MP, Casey O’Connor MLC, Vika Bailey MP, Helen Burnett MP, Shane Rattenbury MLA, Andrew Bradock MLA, Joe Cleary MLA, Laura Natal MLA, Robert Sims MLC, and Dr. Mike Friedlander MP.