Amnesty International on Friday urged Bangladeshi political parties to address critical human rights issues before the national elections on February 12. The organization is calling on all candidates to make human rights a central part of their platforms during and after the election. Amnesty’s report lists several areas that any new government must take seriously, including protecting free speech and supporting vulnerable groups.

Attacks on journalists have become a major threat to free speech. After the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi in December, angry groups attacked the offices of leading newspapers and set them on fire. Journalists have faced death threats and physical danger, leading many to describe the situation as a fight for their very survival. These events have created a climate of fear that makes it difficult for the media to operate freely ahead of the upcoming vote.

UN experts have expressed serious concerns about the use of the legal system to target activists and journalists in the lead up to national elections. There has been a pattern of arresting opposition figures and using security laws to police what people say online, even after the government promised to make changes to those laws. At the same time, workers asking for better pay have faced violent responses from the police, further complicating the country’s human rights record as it faces international review.

The humanitarian situation for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is worsening as many newly arrived people live without access to food or medical care. Refugees are also at risk of being kidnapped inside the camps or forced back across the border into areas where fighting is ongoing. International groups are calling for more support to ensure that these vulnerable people are not sent back to face persecution in their home country.

There have also been urgent calls for the government to protect Hindu and other minority communities following reports of mob violence. Recent political changes have led to a culture of revenge where political opponents have been targeted.

A recent report on water and sanitation shows that Dalit women cleaners are being left behind as climate change makes local conditions more difficult. These women often have to walk long distances to find clean water and are forced to spend a large part of their small income just to stay healthy.