TIB Decries One-Day Deadline for Public Consultation on Anti-Disappearance Bill
Photo Collected
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has denounced as a “farce” the government’s decision to provide only 24 hours for public feedback on the draft of the proposed law to prevent enforced disappearances. The anti-corruption watchdog has formally urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to extend the consultation period to at least two weeks to ensure meaningful stakeholder participation.
The draft legislation was uploaded to the ministry’s website on Tuesday, with a deadline for public comment set for Wednesday, coinciding with an inter-ministerial meeting scheduled to discuss the bill. TIB criticized this timeline as inadequate, arguing that such a brief window undermines the potential for a robust and inclusive legislative process. The organization has called for a comprehensive revision of the draft based on substantive recommendations collected during an extended consultation period.
The proposed law marks a departure from an ordinance introduced by the previous interim government, which explicitly included “protection” in its title—a term omitted from the new draft. Furthermore, while the previous ordinance empowered the National Human Rights Commission to investigate allegations of disappearance, the current proposal shifts this authority to the police. This change has drawn significant concern from experts regarding the feasibility of impartial investigations.
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman acknowledged that the draft contains several positive provisions, such as defining enforced disappearance as a distinct, ongoing criminal offense, establishing accountability for commanding officers, and rejecting state security as a justification for such acts. However, he emphasized that the truncated feedback period suggests a lack of genuine political will to engage with victims and civil society.
Addressing the transfer of investigative authority, Iftekharuzzaman questioned whether police officers would be capable of conducting objective inquiries, particularly when they are tasked with investigating potential misconduct by their own superiors. He noted that expecting subordinate officers to produce impartial reports against high-ranking officials creates a clear conflict of interest, casting doubt on the efficacy of the proposed mechanism.
Ministry officials maintain that the government intends to finalize the bill by incorporating feedback before submitting it to the cabinet, with the aim of passing the legislation in the upcoming parliamentary session. TIB, however, maintains that without a transparent and thorough consultative process, the law risks failing its primary objective of ensuring justice and protection for all citizens.
0%
0%
0%
0%
