Disappearance, NHRC bills tabled

Two major bills aimed at strengthening human rights protection and another allowing parents to transfer property while retaining lifetime rights to use it were placed before the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday amid an opposition walkout.

Opposition MPs left the chamber just before the tabling of the bills, which include long-debated measures on strengthening the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and preventing enforced disappearances.

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The third, the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposes changes to the century-old Transfer of Property Act, 1882.

The Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Bill, 2026, places responsibility for investigating enforced disappearances on the police, despite criticism from rights organisations.

Under the bill, a case filed under the law will be probed by a designated investigation officer, usually of sub-inspector rank. An ordinance promulgated by the interim government had empowered the NHRC to investigate enforced disappearance cases.

The NHRC bill also limits the commission’s power to directly investigate allegations of human rights violations committed by disciplined forces.

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman moved the NHRC and property transfer bills, while Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed introduced the enforced disappearance bill. All three were sent to the relevant parliamentary standing committees for scrutiny.

As the legislative proceedings began, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman objected to ministers placing bills on a Thursday, traditionally reserved for private members’ business.

“I am not sure whether a minister’s bill can be placed on private members’ day. Moreover, several private members’ bills are pending. Isn’t it a violation of rights to place ministers’ bills on a private members’ day?” he asked.

“This is not a good precedent. Private members’ day is for private members. We are not willing to take part in the legislative process.”

Shafiqur said the opposition supported the overall reform process but criticised the government for failing to convene a constitutional reform council in line with the referendum verdict.

“We are walking out of the House as we do not want to be part of a partial process of reforms,” he declared.

Following his speech at around 8:05pm, opposition lawmakers left the chamber.

Salahuddin urged them to remain in the House, saying, “We should keep parliament vibrant and avoid walking out on trivial matters.”

He said differences between the treasury and opposition benches should be debated inside the chamber and all resolutions reached there.

LONG DEBATED

The NHRC and enforced disappearance bills have been under discussion for months.

During the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus, three ordinances were promulgated: the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024; the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025; and the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.

The elected government repealed all three during the first session of the 13th parliament and reinstated the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2009 through fresh legislation.

Similarly, two ordinances on enforced disappearances lapsed after parliament failed to ratify them within the constitutional timeframe. Under the constitution, an ordinance must be placed before parliament at its first sitting and ratified within 30 days of the start of the session.

The government has since moved to reintroduce fresh legislation on both issues.

The enforced disappearance bill provides for the death penalty, as well as life imprisonment and fines, for the offence.

If enacted, it will establish a legal framework to prevent enforced disappearances, prosecute those responsible, locate disappeared persons, and provide rights, compensation and rehabilitation to victims and their families.

It defines enforced disappearance as the arrest, detention or abduction of a person by a government employee or member of a disciplined force, including the army, navy, air force, police, Ansar, Border Guard Bangladesh, Coast Guard, intelligence agencies, Rapid Action Battalion or any joint force, in an official capacity or with government support, followed by denial of the deprivation of liberty or concealment of the person’s whereabouts.

The bill also provides for a central database on enforced disappearances and international cooperation in such cases.

Following an investigation, an allegation of enforced disappearance is to be forwarded through a competent magistrate to the chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal.

The investigation must be completed within a maximum of 120 days, with the trial to be completed within another 120 days.

It also proposes up to five years’ rigorous imprisonment for making a false allegation of enforced disappearance.

Under the NHRC bill, when a human rights violation is allegedly committed by a disciplined force, the commission must first seek a report from the force concerned. Based on the report, the commission may make recommendations to the force to which the alleged offender belongs.

The force must submit an implementation report within 45 days of receiving the recommendations. If the NHRC finds the response satisfactory, the case will be deemed closed. Otherwise, it may take further steps against the offender under the law.

The bill proposes a selection committee headed by the Speaker to recommend candidates for chairperson and commissioners of the NHRC.

The Transfer of Property (Amendment) Bill provides that when a parent or grandparent gifts property to a child or grandchild, or vice versa, or when a husband or wife gifts property to their spouse, the donor may retain the right to use and enjoy the property during their lifetime.