United News of Bangladesh

Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul on Saturday said a truly independent and accountable Human Rights Commission can only thrive when it is free from political influence and rooted in citizen participation. He made the remarks while speaking at a meeting in Cox’s Bazar as the government of Bangladesh unveiled the draft National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Ordinance 2025, marking a significant step forward in the country’s commitment to human rights protection and alignment with international standards. The new draft ordinance, designed to replace the NHRC Act 2009, seeks to enhance the Commission’s independence, inclusivity, and accountability. It seeks to align the NHRC’s mandate with relevant parts of the Paris Principles and addresses key recommendations from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), said UNDP. The event, titled ‘Stakeholder Consultation on the Reform of the National Human Rights Commission Act 2009’, was organised by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division under the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Strengthening Institutions, Policies and Services (SIPS) Programme, with support from the Embassy of Switzerland. Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan said a truly independent and inclusive Human Rights Commission is essential if Bangladesh is to meet international standards and restore public trust. Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh Stefan Liller said within the broader UN family, governance and the promotion of human rights are core areas of expertise for UNDP.  "We remain committed to supporting the people of Bangladesh in shaping a stronger and more effective National Human Rights Commission," he said. Reform of state’s three organs essential to uphold human rights: Asif Nazrul Liller said they are honoured to be among the partners of choice in advancing these reforms at a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s history. Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Renggli said amending the National Human Rights Commission Act is crucial to ensuring the Commission’s independence, efficiency and credibility. "A stronger institution will not only better protect citizens’ rights but also build trust, strengthen accountability and reinforce Bangladesh’s democratic principles," he said. Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks highlighted Sweden’s continued support and said strong and independent human rights institutions are the backbone of democratic societies. "Sweden stands with Bangladesh in this reform process, which is vital for safeguarding human rights, strengthening the rule of law, and advancing inclusive development," said the Swedish envoy. Earlier, Barrister Tanim Hussain Shawon, Special Consultant, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, presented the keynote on ‘Overview of the Proposed NHRC Ordinance 2025’. Iftikhar Syed Ali, Human Rights Officer, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Cox’s Bazar, shared the UN’s position paper on the current law submitted in early September. Among others, Romana Schweiger, Senior Rule of Law, Justice and Security Advisor, UNDP Bangladesh, and Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, spoke at the event. The Cox’s Bazar consultation follows earlier rounds in Sylhet and Khulna, with further divisional consultations planned nationwide ahead of a divisional consultation in the north and the National Dialogue in Dhaka. The recommendations gathered will inform the final amendments to the NHRC Act 2009. Members of the public are invited to share their opinions or comments on the draft National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Ordinance 2025 by 18 September at [email protected]

Students of Milestone School and College in the capital’s Uttara area staged demonstrations on its compound on Tuesday morning, protesting what they called ‘falsehoods’ surrounding the casualties in the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) aircraft crash. The protest began around 10:30am during a visit by two government advisers—Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and Education Adviser CR Abrar—who came to assess the situation firsthand. As the advisers were preparing to leave, the students surrounded them and began chanting slogans: ‘Fake! Fake’! Later, the advisers—accompanied by the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and several teachers—moved to the conference room on the ground floor of Building No. 5 to hold discussions with a delegation of five to seven student representatives. Meanwhile, hundreds of students continued their protest outside the building. The students are demanding the accurate disclosure of the names and identities of those who died, a verified list of the injured, and compensation for the affected families. Aircraft crash death toll rises to 27; 25 children among deceased

Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul on Sunday said the government is committed to the swift trial of those who raped a 25-year-old woman after breaking into her home in Cumilla’s Muradnagar. “The Home Ministry took action immediately ... .the key suspects and others have already been arrested,” he told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, expressing government commitment to deal with the case with the highest importance. He said like any citizen of the country, they are all saddened and outraged by this heinous crime. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also present at the media briefing. UN human rights body to set up office in Bangladesh for 3 years The Law Adviser said an amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure was approved at the meeting of Council Advisers on Sunday. He expressed the hope that many innocent people will be saved from harassment if this initiative is implemented. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus presided over the meeting of the Council of Advisers at the Chief Adviser’s Tejgaon office.

Law Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul on Tuesday said the government is making sincere efforts to meet the people's expectations, mentioning that the core objective of all reform initiatives is to establish good governance and the rule of law in the country. “The government is working to ensure that future rulers cannot endanger lives through abuse of power….so that people do not become destitute due to legal complexities, that personal freedoms are not compromised in the name of civic benefits, and that citizens can live under a well-defined legal system,” he said while speaking at a views-exchange meeting on the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 held at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka. Regarding the implementation of reform proposals submitted by various commissions, Asif Nazrul said more than a hundred recommendations have already been identified as ready for immediate implementation, and work has begun to execute them. He expressed the hope that these reforms would be completed by August this year. Govt to form high-level committee to review public service ordinance “The government has already amended several laws, including the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), Cyber Security Act, Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, and the Power of Attorney Act,” he said, adding that amendments to the Judicial Service Recruitment Rules and the National Legal Aid Services Act are also in the pipeline. “Two separate consultation meetings have been held regarding the enactment of a law to prevent enforced disappearances, and the process is expected to be completed within the next month,” he added. The adviser also noted that the finance and home ministries have made several legal amendments. “The reform process is already underway." He, however, pointed out that some major reforms, especially those requiring constitutional amendments, demand political consensus. “In such cases, we are waiting for the July Charter. Once this charter is formulated in July, it will provide the foundation for undertaking broader reforms,” he explained. Asif Nazrul acknowledged that the nature and structure of the current government are not entirely conducive to the scale of reforms expected by society, which is why the administration is having to work extra hard to deliver. 252 lower court judges transferred; 12 judges get promotion “The government will not attempt to amend the Constitution bypassing all political parties’ consensus,” he assured. At the meeting, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Tajul Islam, Professor of Law Department of Dhaka University Mahbubur Rahman, Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Mahbub Uddin Khokon and others expressed their  opinions on various sections and sub-sections of the draft ordinance.

Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul has strongly denied allegations published by the Indian online portal News Arena India, which ran a report titled ‘B'desh legal advisor meets top LeT operative post J&K attack’. Dr Asif Nazrul dismissed the allegations as false, defamatory and utterly irresponsible, as the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs clarified in a statement issued on Friday. According to the statement, on April 24, a report of News Arena India alleged that Asif Nazrul met with a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative following the recent Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir—an accusation the statement described as completely baseless. Clarifying the events, the statement said Adviser Asif Nazrul had met leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam, a legally operating platform of Islamic scholars in Bangladesh, to address politically motivated cases filed during the previous government’s tenure. The meeting took place several days before the date cited by News Arena India and focused solely on legal matters, the statement added. The statement further clarified that Hefazat-e-Islam’s political engagement is widely recognised, including by western embassies in Dhaka, and international rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented past crackdowns against the group. Delayed elections may jeopardise foreign investment prospects: Mustafizur Rahman Besides, the report falsely claimed that the adviser posted an inflammatory message on Facebook implicating Indian leaders in the Pahalgam massacre. In reality, the post in question was authored by an Indian citizen criticising security lapses. He shared the post with a caption condemning the attack. Recognising the potential for misinterpretation, he voluntarily deleted the post within hours, the statement added. Adviser Asif Nazrul condemned the Pahalgam attack, offered condolences to the victims and called for quick justice. It also urged media outlets to uphold journalistic standards and verify facts before publication.