In a statement released on Monday, a coalition of human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW), has called upon the government of Bangladesh to reconsider its current draft of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Bill 2026. The draft law, intended to replace the National Human Rights Ordinance 2025, has drawn considerable criticism for allegedly undermining the commission’s independence and authority. This coalition urges amendments to the bill to align it with international human rights standards, specifically highlighting the Paris Principles governing national human rights institutions.
Concerns have been raised regarding the perceived regression in human rights safeguards when compared to the 2025 ordinance. According to HRW, the new legislation could weaken the NHRC’s mandate, transforming it into a body with limited authority, rather than bolstering its capacity as a strong, independent institution. Critical voices suggest that the proposed structure of the NHRC threatens its independence, with significant government influence that risks politicizing appointments and expanding executive control over the commission’s operations, contrary to the Paris Principles.
The coalition has expressed alarm over the narrowing of the NHRC’s functions. Notable reductions include the removal of its duty to protect human rights defenders, engage with civil society organizations, and advise the government on international human rights treaties. This narrowing is seen as a step away from a comprehensive human rights mandate.
Additional concerns relate to the bill’s provisions for investigating alleged human rights violations by security agencies. The procedure envisages reliance on reports from the accused security force’s chief or government submissions, a setup criticized for potentially shielding security forces from accountability. This approach is viewed as incompatible with the need for impartial investigations into state actors.
The organizations involved are urging the Bangladeshi government to revamp the NHRC Bill 2026 to empower the commission to investigate all state actors independently and safeguard vulnerable communities. This call comes in the wake of Bangladesh’s previous efforts to reinforce human rights protection following nationwide protests that spotlighted human rights abuses. Back in January 2026, Amnesty International had urged political parties to prioritize human rights before the February elections. The 2025 ordinance was seen as a step toward this goal, yet the new bill has attracted criticism from groups like Transparency International Bangladesh for perceived detrimental effects on the commission’s autonomy.
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