NHRC, enforced disappearance bills passed amid opposition walkout

Parliament on Sunday passed three bills, including two important ones -- the National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026 and the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Bill, 2026 -- amid protest from opposition lawmakers.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman piloted the National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026 and the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Bill, 2026, while Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed moved the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Bill, 2026.

The three bills were passed separately by voice votes in the House.

The opposition lawmakers were present when the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Bill was passed but walked out of the House before the passage of the National Human Rights Commission Bill and the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Bill.

Before staging the walkout, Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman said they had already made their position clear on the bills.

He said the treasury bench had assured that stronger and improved versions of the laws – human rights and enforced disappearance -- would be brought to Parliament, allowing the related ordinances issued under the interim government to lapse.

“But we have already expressed our concerns. There is a clear dual application of the human rights law,” he said.

Shafiqur said the proposed law does not provide the Human Rights Commission with uniform authority to investigate allegations of rights violations.

“If an ordinary person commits a human rights violation, the Human Rights Commission will be able to investigate it directly. But if a member of a law enforcement agency is involved, the agency will first be notified and asked to respond,” he said.

The opposition leader alleged that the government had allowed the earlier bills to lapse and was now bringing the laws in a weaker form.

“For this reason, we will not be partners in passing these laws. We have made our position clear that we will not participate in the discussion on these laws, and we are walking out now,” he said.

Speaker responded to Shafiqur Rahman, saying, “Thank you for walking out.”