The government is moving forward with plans to draft a new law on enforced disappearances and form a dedicated commission under the proposed legislation, Law Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul said on Monday (June 16).

He made the statement following a meeting with two visiting representatives of the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

The UN delegation included WGEID Vice-Chairs Grażyna Baranowska, Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez, who are currently visiting Bangladesh to assess the country’s efforts to address allegations of enforced disappearances.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Professor Nazrul said the initiative to enact specific legislation on enforced disappearances has been welcomed by the UN working group. 

“They appreciated the step and asked whether the tenure of the existing government-formed commission could be extended. I told them the matter would be discussed with the Chief Advisor and the Advisory Council,” he said.

He added that the government aims to establish a "strong and independent commission" under the new law to investigate and address cases of enforced disappearance.

When asked about the timeline, Nazrul said the government hopes to pass both the law on enforced disappearances and an amendment ordinance to the Criminal Procedure Code within the next month.

Journalists also inquired about the proposed formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. In response, Professor Nazrul said a delegation, led by the Chief Justice, had earlier visited South Africa to study its experience in post-conflict justice and reconciliation.

“In the next phase, we are considering holding a regional consultation led by the Chief Justice,” he said. “Experts and representatives from Sri Lanka, Nepal, and other South Asian countries may be invited. We plan to engage political parties, civil society members, human rights defenders, and students in the process to determine the best path forward for Bangladesh.”

MSK/