Civil society representatives have urged the government to place the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Ordinance before the National Parliament for approval without review, warning that reopening the law could risk weakening the safeguards currently contained in it.
The demand was made at a view sharing meeting organised by the National Human Rights Commission in the capital's Karwan Bazar on Monday afternoon.
Speakers at the meeting said that although the ordinance contains certain shortcomings, the immediate priority should be to preserve the existing legal framework and ensure the continuity of the commission. They added that any errors or gaps could be addressed later through supplementary legal safeguards.
The five member National Human Rights Commission was constituted on 5 February during the final phase of the interim government.
Speaking at the meeting, Debapriya Bhattacharya, convener of Citizen Platform Bangladesh for the Implementation of SDGs, said the ordinance should be approved in its current form as it is among the 133 ordinances issued during the interim administration.
"The National Human Rights Commission Ordinance should be approved as it is among the 133 ordinances issued during the interim government. There can be no room for doubt about this," he said.
Debapriya Bhattacharya said that once the ordinance is passed by parliament, supplementary safeguards could be introduced to make the commission more effective. However, he stressed that ensuring the continuity of the existing commission should be the first priority.
"This commission was created at the end of the previous government. Therefore, the new political government has to accept it.
The necessary elements are here to accept it. There is no need to create a new situation with it," he said.
He also emphasised the need for broader reforms to strengthen the human rights protection framework, including the enactment of an anti-discrimination law and the appointment of an ombudsman as provided in the constitution.
Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, described the ordinance as comparatively stronger than many other ordinances issued during the interim government, though certain deficiencies remain.
"Among the ordinances passed during the interim government, the Human Rights Commission Ordinance is a relatively good law.
However, there are some shortcomings. For example, the issue of financial independence has not been fully addressed," he said.
Despite the limitations, he urged the government not to reopen the ordinance for review before parliamentary approval.
"If the review process begins, various adversities may arise. There may be a possibility of losing whatever has been gained," he said.
Khushi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori, said the commission must play an effective role in protecting rights rather than existing merely in name.
"The law that will be passed should not be a 'paper tiger'. The matter should be done to protect real human rights," she said.
Shamsul Huda, executive director of the Association for Land and Development, said marginalised communities are often the worst victims of rights violations and called for the formation of district level human rights committees.
National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mainul Islam Chowdhury said the commissioners are ready to work with sincerity, dedication and courage within the limits of the law.
"Regardless of goodwill, the effectiveness of the commission largely depends on the legal basis," he said.
Referring to international standards, he added, "Currently, the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh is included in Status B. We are the only ones in South Asia who have not yet been able to pass Status A."
