Bangladesh LGBTQ+ petition calls for legal protection

Activists from the Bangladeshi diaspora have launched a global petition urging authorities in Bangladesh to end discrimination and punishment against students and individuals perceived to be LGBTQ+, following a series of reported expulsions, detentions and violent attacks.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a human rights advocacy group in exile, has announced a new campaign demanding that educational institutions, law enforcement and the courts cease targeting people on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and comply with Bangladesh’s constitutional and international human rights commitments.

Campaign details and reported incidents

The petition, hosted on the All Out platform, alleges that universities and police in Bangladesh have expelled, detained and imprisoned students accused of being gay, even when there is no indication that they harmed others.

Among the cases highlighted:

• Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur
  JMBF reports that in May 2026, four students at the northern Bangladesh institution were expelled and two others were handed over to police following allegations about their sexual orientation.
• Dhaka Unani medical college
  At a medical college in Dhaka, one student was reportedly pressured to identify other gay students. According to the campaign, five people were then sentenced by a mobile court, imprisoned and lost their accommodation as a result.
• Transgender community gathering in Dhaka
  The petition states that transgender people who assembled peacefully in Dhaka in April were attacked by a mob. Activists claim police declined to register their complaint, leaving them without legal recourse.
• Consensual same-sex relationship between two women
  The campaign also raises the case of two women who were reportedly detained and jailed after a family complaint about their consensual relationship.

JMBF argues that these incidents reflect a wider pattern in which educational institutions, police and courts in Bangladesh respond to sexual orientation and gender identity with punishment, social exclusion and legal action.

According to the organization, such practices are incompatible with Bangladesh’s Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law, personal liberty, privacy and protection from discrimination, as well as with the country’s obligations under international human rights norms.

What the petition demands

The JMBF-led campaign is calling for Bangladeshi authorities to:

• Reinstate students who have been expelled or suspended because of their perceived or actual sexual orientation.
• Drop charges and release people imprisoned for consensual same-sex relationships.
• Investigate allegations of coercive questioning, including pressure on students to name other LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Ensure that complaints from LGBTQ+ people, including transgender communities, are properly recorded and investigated by the police.

More than 12,600 people had signed the petition at the time of the original announcement, signaling broad international engagement on the issue.

You can sign the petition here.

Why this matters for the workplace

For employers, investors and business leaders with operations or partnerships in Bangladesh, these developments are highly relevant. Safe access to education and protection from identity-based persecution influence the future talent pipeline, employee wellbeing and corporate reputation.

Workplaces that value diversity, equity and inclusion depend on legal and social environments where LGBTQ+ people can learn, work and live without fear. Monitoring these human rights concerns, and aligning corporate policies and supplier expectations with inclusive standards, is now a strategic priority for global businesses.

For organisations and professionals seeking to support LGBTQ+ inclusion and connect with inclusive employers worldwide, platforms like myGwork provide a practical way to learn from best practices, access diverse talent and build more inclusive business cultures. You can explore these resources and join the community by signing up for myGwork.

Interested in becoming a corporate member? Click here for more info.