Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has said on Monday that the government will soon form a powerful commission to investigate cases of enforced disappearances under a new law currently being finalized.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat following a meeting with a delegation from the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID), the adviser said that the draft legislation is expected to be completed within the next month.
Nazrul, who met with the UN delegation earlier in the day, said the government is committed to bringing justice in cases of enforced disappearances and acknowledged that victims span across all major political parties. “Whether it is BNP, Jamaat, or NCP — all have been affected. BNP and Jamaat were particularly targeted,” he said.
He alleged that previous efforts by the UN to investigate such incidents were blocked by the Awami League-led government.
“Over the past 12 years, the UN repeatedly sought to visit Bangladesh, but the then regime refused their requests and did not respond to official letters,” he claimed.
According to the adviser, the proposed law will allow for the creation of an independent commission with investigative and prosecutorial authority. It will also include provisions for engaging with victims’ families, issuing missing person certificates, and forming search committees.
“The UN team appreciated our efforts and expressed willingness to support the law-making process intellectually,” Nazrul said.
When asked about the possibility of forming a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) similar to the South African model, Nazrul said discussions are ongoing.
He noted that such commissions often include truth-seeking, memorialisation, amnesty under specific conditions, and national reconciliation through justice for main perpetrators.
He also cited a proposal to establish a “July Museum” at the former Ganabhaban premises, aimed at preserving the memory of victims of recent political violence.
The adviser confirmed that the government is planning a regional conference led by the Chief Justice, bringing together representatives from countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, and South Africa, as well as Bangladeshi political parties, civil society groups, and students.
“Our aim is to build national consensus through dialogue and establish justice while ensuring proper reparation for victims — not just monetary, but through opportunities like employment,” Nazrul added.
HKJ
