Opposition withdraws from Human Rights Commission Bill review, passage
The opposition had earlier announced that its members would withdraw from the review of the bill and would not attend further committee meetings concerning it.
Opposition members of parliament today (30 August) boycotted a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee reviewing the National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026, accusing the government of rushing the legislation and weakening the proposed commission's powers.
The boycott followed the opposition's decision to withdraw from the bill's review and passage process, which it says is weaker than the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025.
Opposition spokesperson in Parliament and committee member Barrister Nazibur Rahman Momen, along with Al Farooq Abdul Latif and Akhtar Hossain, endorsed the boycott statement.
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They alleged that the government repealed the 2025 ordinance without adequately considering victims, stakeholders and national and international human rights organisations, despite promising a stronger replacement law.
Their main concern is the commission's investigative authority, particularly over violations by law enforcement agencies. They said provisions for independent investigations have been weakened, limiting the commission's ability to probe rights violations by state agencies.
Legal experts and rights organisations, including Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), have also raised concerns over several provisions, they said.
Two-day deadline sparks protest
The bill was introduced in Parliament on 27 August by Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman and referred to the ministry's standing committee, which was given only two working days to submit its report.
The opposition said the deadline leaves virtually no scope for consultation with stakeholders, human rights experts and international organisations or for assessing compliance with the Paris Principles, Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) standards and relevant international conventions.
Although the Law Ministry had previously sought public and civil society feedback, the committee was not informed about the submissions or how they were reflected in the draft. The opposition said the rushed process has effectively turned the committee into a "rubber stamp".
Jamaat warns of democratic erosion
The opposition also described the process as "parliamentary fascism", alleging that even ruling-party lawmakers had previously faced pressure to withdraw dissenting views.
They warned that turning committees into bodies that merely endorse government decisions would undermine parliamentary democracy. The members said they would not participate in any further discussion, review or passage of the bill or attend related committee meetings.
Nazibur Rahman told The Business Standard that the opposition would also boycott the parliamentary session when the bill is discussed. The bill has not yet been passed.
