‘Baaper Doa Human Rights Commission’: Hasnat slams govt over NHRC

National Citizen Party MP Hasnat Abdullah today came down heavily on the government for not passing the National Human Rights Commission ordinance issued by the interim government.

He locked in a debate while participating in the discussion during the passing of July Mass Uprising (Protection and Liability Determination) Bill 2026.

After the home minister introduced the bill, Hasnat, also a frontline leader of the mass uprising, raised various objections to it.

He pointed out that according to the bill, the National Human Rights Commission will determine the “criminal misuse of chaotic situations”.

The interim government had earlier issued an ordinance to make the commission independent, but instead of approving that ordinance, a bill has already been introduced in parliament to reinstate the 2009 law.

Referring to these two points, Hasnat said, “If we look at the definition of criminal misuse of chaotic situations, it explains that killings committed for narrow and personal interests will be viewed one way, while activities organised with the aim of restoring democracy will be viewed another way.”

“In other words, the matter of indemnity (for the participants of the July mass uprising) will depend on the human rights commission.

“If the commission now operates under the 2009 law, it will be a fully government-controlled body. This commission has been used to suppress opposition parties and opinions, to engage in victim-blaming, and to legitimise enforced disappearances and killings,” the NCP MP added.

He argued that if the commission is placed under a ministry and given the responsibility to investigate and review the actions during the July uprising, then such reviews will be questionable.

“In this reality, if after the July uprising, we place the National Human Rights Commission under a ministry, under the home ministry, how can we expect impartial investigations? We are doubtful,” he said.

“Given how institutions are being nakedly politicised, we cannot trust that the commission will not be politicised, or turned into a ‘Baaper Doa Human Rights Commission’ or an opposition-suppression commission. Before passing this bill, the issue of the commission must be resolved,”

“We can also see how constitutional institutions are being blatantly politicised -- Bangladesh Bank has been captured, and the BCB has turned into ‘Baaper Doa Cricket Board'," Hasnat said.

Responding to Hasnat’s remarks about the BCB, the home minister asked how the Cricket Control Board figured into this bill.

The minister said that during the interim government, the then sports adviser exercised power to influence district committees across Bangladesh. Registered clubs were pressured, and using state authority, a one-sided body was formed in the cricket board without resolving the writ in the High Court. Later, under the current democratic government, an inquiry committee was formed.

That committee’s report confirmed significant irregularities. Based on that report, the previous board was dissolved, and a Cricket Control Board was established. An ad hoc committee was formed, headed by the country’s distinguished cricketer Tamim Iqbal. This ad hoc committee will hold elections within three months according to regulations.

“We did not create any ‘Baaper Doa-Mayer Doa’ committee. For years, we heard of ‘Mayer Doa Transport’. Today, thanks to the parliament, we heard of a ‘Baaper Doa Committee’,” Salahuddin said.

On the Human Rights Commission, the minister said, “A wrong message is going to the nation. There is overlap among the Human Rights Commission, the Disappearance Commission, and the ICT Act.”

He said the government wants to establish an independent and strong Human Rights Commission, aligned with the law on enforced disappearances and the ICT Act

“Instead of matching this strong law, if we give the Human Rights Commission temporary investigative responsibility with lighter punishments, one to one-and-a-half years will be wasted.

“It is better if victims of enforced disappearance can directly file cases under the ICT Act. Investigations will be conducted by dedicated teams. The Human Rights Commission will have alignment with this”, the home minister said

“The interim government, I would say, created a childish law. The powers given to the commission lacked stakeholder consultation. We must consult stakeholders. We have issues in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Bangladesh faces LGBT issues. We must integrate our socio-economic and religious culture to create an internationally standard Human Rights Commission suitable for this country. In sha Allah, we will bring that bill. That is our commitment. There is no obstacle to this,” he added.

Following Salahuddin’s address, the bill was passed by voice vote.