The Advisory Council has given policy approval to the draft of the Enforced Disappearance Prevention, Remedies and Protection Ordinance, 2025.
The draft will undergo further review before receiving final approval. The decision came during the Council’s 40th meeting held on Thursday at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the draft ordinance had been revised based on recommendations from the Commission on Enforced Disappearances, as well as opinions from the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Human Rights Watch, and other rights organizations.
Inputs from two consultation meetings organized by the Law and Justice Division were also taken into account.
“The draft defines enforced disappearance as a continuing offence and prescribes stringent penalties, including the death sentence,” the press secretary said. “The establishment or use of secret detention centers has been made a punishable offence. The National Human Rights Commission will be empowered to receive and investigate complaints relating to disappearances. The ordinance also provides for the formation of special tribunals, mandatory trial completion within 120 days of charge framing, protection of victims, whistleblowers and witnesses, as well as compensation and legal aid for victims.”
Addressing the closure of three land ports, Shafiqul Alam explained that many of them were approved due to local political considerations rather than practical needs.
“In reality, no infrastructure was built on the other side of the border, and no significant trade takes place through these points. Maintaining infrastructure there has become an unnecessary financial burden on the government,” he said.
