Govt Okays Draft Ordinance on Enforced Disappearance with Capital Punishment
The government today gave final approval to the draft of 'Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Ordinance 2025' introducing capital punishment and other tough penalties for the offence. The Council of Advisers gave the approval at its 47th meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office here with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair. "The ordinance defines enforced disappearance as a continuing offence and makes both the establishment and use of secret detention centers - known as "Aynaghar" - a punishable crime," said Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam at a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy here this afternoon.
As per the ordinance, he said, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has been authorised to receive and investigate complaints of enforced disappearance. The law also makes mandatory to complete trials within 120 days after the setting up of special tribunals to investigate the complaints on enforced disappearance, the press secretary said. The ordinance ensures protection of victims, witnesses, and information givers, and guarantees compensation and legal aid, he said, adding that a special fund and database will be created for prevention, redress, and protection over enforced disappearances.
Shafiqul Alam said the ordinance was framed in alignment with the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, which Bangladesh ratified on August 29, 2024. He said this legislation marks a decisive step toward safeguarding life and personal liberty under the constitution. The press secretary stated that with this law in effect, "no future fascist government will be able to establish a regime of disappearances or 'Aynaghar' (secret prisons) in Bangladesh."
About the numbers of the victims of enforced disappearance, Shafiqul Alam said hundreds of people fell victims into enforced disappearances during Sheikh Hasina regime. Noting that Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances received about 2000 complaints, he said, but, according to the commission members, the number of the victims would be over 4000. There were hundreds of ‘Aynaghars’ across the country where the victims of enforced disappearances were confined, the press secretary said, adding, though many of the victims returned from the ‘Aynaghars’, many people, including some BNP activists, still remain accounted for. Chief Adviser's Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad and Assistant Press Secretary Shuchismita Tithi were present at the briefing.
