Concerns over Cabinet’s nod to drafts of NHRC, PRD Acts 

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) expressed deep concern over the Cabinet’s in-principle approval of the draft National Human Rights Commission Act, 2026 and the draft Prevention and Redress of Disappearances Act, 2026, saying key concerns raised by stakeholders have been ignored.
In a statement on Wednesday, TIB questioned what lessons the government and ruling party had drawn from the “brutal and multifaceted human rights violations”, including enforced disappearances and killings, committed during the fallen authoritarian regime.

TIB questions govt’s apathy over disappearances, killings under past regime

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said several positive provisions had been incorporated into the two drafts, but provisions that could undermine the independence and effectiveness of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) remained.
He said the approved NHRC draft would make the commission dependent on reports from the government or heads of the concerned forces when allegations of human rights violations are brought against “disciplinary forces”.
“Due to such weaknesses in the 2009 Act, the commission could not play any role in holding them accountable or preventing their crimes, and the National Human Rights Commission could never achieve ‘A’ category status under international standards,” Dr Iftekharuzzaman said.
He also criticised the proposed composition of the selection committee for appointing the NHRC chairman and commissioners, which includes the Speaker, Law Minister, Home Minister, an MP from the government party and the Cabinet Secretary.
According to TIB, the provision allowing the government to effectively control the nomination of at least two of the other three members creates a serious risk of executive dominance over the commission. It also criticised the absence of mandatory representation of women, minorities and disadvantaged groups.
“Is such a human rights commission the target of the bloody July Uprising? Or is it not completely contrary to the 31-point or election manifesto of the ruling party?” Dr Iftekharuzzaman asked.
TIB further said the draft does not clearly establish that the NHRC would remain outside the control of any ministry or government department. It criticised provisions requiring prior government approval to establish offices outside Dhaka, allowing up to 30 per cent of officials to be appointed on deputation and permitting serving government employees to be appointed as commissioners.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman also questioned the omission of a provision in the earlier draft stating that excuses for human rights violations would be unacceptable.
“The positive clause 14 of the first draft published on the website of the Law Ministry, where it was said that excuses for human rights violations are unacceptable ‘only in accordance with the order or direction of the government or higher authority’, has been omitted in the approved draft,” he said.