Three bills, including the National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026 and the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Bill, 2026, were placed in Parliament on Thursday after opposition staged a walk-out from the House.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman placed the National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026 and the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Bill, 2026, while Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed tabled the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Bill, 2026.
Later, the bills were sent to the respective parliamentary standing committees for scrutiny. The committees were asked to report within two working days.
The National Human Rights Commission Bill sought to repeal the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2009 and replace it with a new legal framework aimed at creating an effective and independent commission.
In his statement of objectives and reasons, the law minister said respect for human rights is a fundamental commitment of the state and that Bangladesh remains committed to international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The proposed commission will consist of a chairman and four commissioners, with at least one woman member.
It also proposed giving preference to qualified candidates from minority and disadvantaged communities on the recommendation of a selection committee comprising a university professor, a civil society representative and representatives of those communities.
The bill sought to clarify the commission’s jurisdiction and make the complaint process easier. It will also empower the commission to issue interim orders to protect victims from immediate threats and prevent further harm while investigations are continuing.
A key provision is the proposed establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) unit, in line with the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture. The unit will work to prevent torture, custodial deaths and enforced disappearances.
The Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Bill, 2026 proposed life imprisonment for the offence of enforced disappearance.
If a victim dies or remains untraced for more than five years, the punishment could be death or life imprisonment, along with a fine of up to Tk 1 crore.
The bill defined enforced disappearance as a cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable criminal offence, establishing a legal framework for prevention, prosecution, locating missing persons and protecting victims and their families.
In his statement of objectives and reasons, the home minister said the proposed legislation is intended to uphold human rights, human dignity, personal liberty and the rule of law.
Courts will be empowered to issue search warrants to trace disappeared persons. The bill also provides for trials in absentia, the acceptance of digital evidence and protection for witnesses, complainants, whistleblowers and victims.
Victims and their families will have the right to receive updates on investigations, seek the truth about what happened and learn the whereabouts or fate of the disappeared person.
The proposed framework also provides state-funded legal assistance, medical treatment, rehabilitation and compensation through a dedicated fund.
Compensation could be recovered from the assets of convicted persons, while the state will meet the cost where recovery is not possible.
Spouses and dependent family members will also be allowed to use the disappeared person’s property for maintenance and essential expenses.
After five years, a certificate of disappearance could be issued to facilitate inheritance matters. The bill further proposed a central database and international cooperation in cases of enforced disappearance.
Both investigations and trials will be required to conclude within a maximum of 120 days.
However, the proposed legislation does not establish an independent investigative body.
Responsibility for investigating enforced disappearance cases will remain with the police.
The Transfer of Property (Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposed changes to the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 to introduce legal recognition of lifetime usufruct rights.
The provision will allow parents, grandparents and other eligible donors to transfer property to specified blood relatives or spouses while retaining the legal right to use and enjoy the property during their lifetime.
According to the law minister’s statement of objectives and reasons, the existing law sets out various forms of property transfer but contains no specific provision allowing a donor to make a gift while retaining lifetime enjoyment of the property.
Earlier, the opposition staged a walk-out from the House, protesting what it described as the government's move to bypass comprehensive reforms and pursue partial reforms.
Opposition lawmakers walked out of the House around 8:05pm as the parliamentary proceedings moved into the legislative phase, including the tabling of the National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026 and the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Bill, 2026.