Journal of Indonesian Constitutional Law
Vol. 2 No. 3 (2025): Journal of Indonesian Constitutional Law

From Protest to Political Transition: International Responses to Bangladesh's 2024 Movement in the Context of Emergency Constitutional Law

Ashraf, Md Ali (Unknown)
Rahman, Muhammad Mahmudur (Unknown)
Md. Basirulla (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Dec 2025

Abstract

This paper examines how other countries reacted to the July 2024 student movement in Bangladesh through the prism of constitutional crisis and emergency rule. The demonstrations that began over the reinstatement of the civil service quota system quickly escalated into a nationwide struggle against the constitutional order, marked by rampant violations of constitutionally guaranteed rights, including the right to life and personal liberty, freedom of assembly and expression, and the right against arbitrary arrest. The state's response, manifested in the overuse of force, mass detentions, and long-term internet bans, in fact precipitated a de facto constitutional crisis without a declaration of a state of emergency. This study will employ a qualitative research design, using documentary and thematic content analyses of official statements, human rights reports, international media coverage, and policy briefs published between July 2024 and February 2025. The results show a definite split in the international reactions: Western democracies and the international human rights institutions interpreted the crisis as the problem of constitutionality, the rule of law, and international human rights commitments, whereas regional powers viewed the crisis as the problem of political stability, sovereignty, and non-intervention. The article also suggests that the continued international pressure together with the mobilization within the country contributed greatly to undermining the legitimacy of the existing government and the direction to the formation of the interim government that was operating under the conditions of constitutional necessity. The place of international responses within the context of constitutional emergency and international human rights law, therefore, allows the study to add to comparative constitutionalism studies on the way in which international actors affect constitutional failure and post-crisis state politics.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jicl

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

Journal of Indonesian Constitutional Law focuses on studies and research on constitutional law, especially classical constitutional law in Nusantara. Journal of Indonesian Constitutional Law publishes studies and research results related to constitutional law, especially classical constitutional law ...