Parliament restores 2009 National Human Rights Commission Act, repeals 2025 ordinance
Opposition MP Hasnat says the move is ‘backward step’
The National Parliament today (9 April) passed a bill reinstating the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2009, repealing the interim government's National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.
Despite strong objections from opposition lawmakers, the National Human Rights Commission (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, was adopted by voice vote.
On 5 December 2024, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus issued an ordinance amending the 2009 law, which Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman repealed by placing the new bill in the House.
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Following its introduction, opposition lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah (Cumilla-4) strongly opposed the move, saying the bill effectively restores the 2009 act, which, according to him, had been used in the past to suppress opposition voices.
"We have seen that this commission used to justify actions against opposition parties, particularly the BNP. Even the commission's chairman once suggested that shooting Jamaat activists could be justified in the name of protecting human rights," said the NCP leader.
Hasnat further termed the repeal of the 2025 ordinance and return to the 2009 framework as a "backward step," adding that it would serve as a textbook example of national regression.
Responding to the criticism, the law minister said that Hasnat delivered an engaging speech fit for the streets but had not read the bill itself.
"The very first line of the bill states that, pending broader consultations and review with relevant stakeholders, and to ensure that the National Human Rights Commission does not remain vacant, the 2009 law has been restored temporarily," he said.
He also told the House that if the ordinance were repealed without reinstating the 2009 law, it would create the impression internationally that Bangladesh currently has no human rights commission.
Despite the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission in 2009, between that year and 2020, political violence claimed 2,221 lives and left more than 1,27,000 people injured, according to Odhikar's Annual Human Rights Report 2020.
The report also documented around 2,000 extrajudicial killings, nearly 3,817 cases of dowry-related violence against women, and 9,593 rapes during the same period. Subsequent years saw even higher numbers, as recorded in later reports (2020–2023).
The 2025 amended ordinance granted the commission the opportunity to extend its jurisdiction to investigate complaints against the military and other disciplinary forces.
Article 15 of that enhances accountability by abolishing the "superior orders" excuse, meaning liability cannot be avoided on the pretext of following orders. The commission could initiate cases, intervene in court, and seek redress for victims.
The interim government had issued 133 ordinances between 8 August 2024 and 17 February 2026. A special parliamentary committee recommended that 98 ordinances be tabled in parliament as bills, while 15 others be placed as amended bills through the respective ministries.
