The government of Bangladesh is taking steps to strengthen human rights protections and is working to end the longstanding culture of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said.
Speaking at a seminar in Dhaka marking International Women’s Day 2026, the minister said the administration has already taken measures to reduce illegal arrests and curb the practice of filing false cases while pursuing broader reforms aimed at protecting civil liberties and strengthening the rule of law.
The event, titled “Rights, Justice and Implementation for All Women and Girls", was organised by the rights organisation Manusher Jonno Foundation at the Military Museum auditorium in the capital’s Bijoy Sarani area. According to an official statement from the Press Information Department, the minister addressed the programme as chief guest alongside representatives from international organisations and civil society.
Md Asaduzzaman said the government considers public welfare, human rights and women’s rights among its top priorities. He noted that shortly after assuming office the administration introduced the “Family Card” programme as part of its social protection strategy.
Under a pilot phase of the initiative, more than 37,000 family cards were issued to households, with ownership of the cards placed in the names of women in female-headed families. The minister said the approach was intended to recognise women’s role in households and strengthen their access to government support.
He also highlighted efforts to encourage greater participation of women in public life. Referring to the most recent national election campaign, he said he addressed numerous public gatherings where he urged women to become more active and empowered in society.
Addressing questions about institutional oversight, the minister said he personally supports the establishment of a women’s commission. However, he cautioned that the creation of multiple commissions in the country has sometimes led to overlapping responsibilities among different bodies.
He added that a recently introduced ordinance related to the National Human Rights Commission includes provisions for a specialised commission dealing with cases of enforced disappearances. According to the minister, the government’s objective is to reduce such incidents to zero.
On the issue of law enforcement practices, Md Asaduzzaman said steps have been taken to curb illegal arrests and discourage the filing of false criminal cases. He expressed hope that with broader cooperation from different sectors of society, these practices would continue to decline.
The seminar brought together policymakers, diplomats and rights advocates to discuss the implementation of legal protections for women and girls. Among those who spoke at the event were Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Renggli, Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau Md Daud Miah, UN Women representative in Bangladesh Gitanjali Singh, United Nations Special Rapporteur Irene Khan and Barrister Sara Hossain, executive director of the legal aid organisation BLAST.
Participants highlighted the importance of strengthening legal institutions, ensuring accountability and expanding access to justice as part of broader efforts to protect human rights and promote gender equality in Bangladesh.
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