Strengthening the Bulwark Against Impunity

DHAKA, April 8, 2026 — In a joint appeal to the newly elected government of Bangladesh, ARTICLE 19, alongside a coalition of international human rights organizations, has urged Parliament to urgently enact critical legislation adopted by the previous Interim Government before they officially lapse.

The joint letter, signed by groups including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the United Against Torture Consortium, highlights two essential ordinances that represent the "institutional architecture" of a rights-respecting future for the nation.

1. Reforming the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

Under the proposed NHRC Ordinance 2025, the Commission would move closer to international Paris Principles of independence.

• The Mandate: For the first time, the NHRC would be empowered to investigate abuses by security forces and monitor detention sites without requiring government permission.

• The Risk: If the ordinance lapses, the law reverts to the NHRC Act 2009, which critics long labeled as "toothless," leaving the Commission under the oversight of government ministries.

2. Criminalizing Enforced Disappearances

The Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Ordinance 2025 is perhaps the most significant legal shift in recent history.

• The Crime: It establishes enforced disappearance as a distinct, punishable crime under Bangladeshi law.

• The Victims: This follows evidence from the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIED), which documented 1,569 complaints and nearly 300 victims who remain missing.

Geopolitical & Governance Implications

The coalition emphasized that the government's current proposal to allow these ordinances to lapse and reintroduce them as new bills later is a dangerous delay. Such a move would effectively dissolve the revitalized commission and its five newly appointed commissioners, creating a vacuum in oversight.

"A strong and independent NHRC is essential to investigate cases and prevent future abuses. The government must pass these ordinances without weakening them to demonstrate a true break from the past." — Joint Coalition Statement

Global Human Rights Alignment

While the international community largely supports these reforms, the coalition has recommended one key amendment: the removal of the death penalty as a punishment from the Enforced Disappearance Ordinance. This change would bring Bangladesh's domestic laws in line with global standards against capital punishment while still ensuring accountability for state-led violations.

Conclusion for GPN: As the BNP-led administration begins its tenure, its handling of these ordinances serves as a primary indicator of whether the new political era will prioritize institutional reform and Article 19 principles, or return to a framework that allows for state impunity.