No extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances in 42 days: Asaduzzaman

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Thursday told Parliament that no incidents of crossfire or enforced disappearance have been reported during the 42 days of the current government’s tenure.

Presenting the National Human Rights Commission (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill-2026 in the House, the minister said the government remains firmly committed to upholding human rights and ensuring that past practices of extrajudicial actions are not repeated. The session was chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram.

Responding to concerns raised by opposition MP Hasnat Abdullah, Asaduzzaman said the administration has deliberately refrained from any form of retaliatory politics despite having the opportunity to do so.

“This government could have chosen a path of vengeance, but it did not. In the last 42 days, there has been no instance of crossfire or enforced disappearance. This reflects our commitment to human rights and rule of law,” he said.

The minister also referred to past experiences of political repression, noting that members of the BNP and the Zia family had faced significant human rights violations over the years.

He stressed that the current government does not want any citizen to endure such suffering again.

“We do not want families to go through the pain of waiting for missing loved ones. Our goal is to ensure justice, dignity and security for all,” he added.

On the proposed Human Rights Commission law, Asaduzzaman said the earlier 2025 ordinance was prepared in haste and contains several legal ambiguities. He pointed out that certain provisions, particularly Section 16, lack clarity regarding compensation mechanisms and punitive measures.

To address these shortcomings, the government has initiated consultations with relevant stakeholders to draft a more comprehensive and transparent law. Until the new legislation is finalised, the National Human Rights Commission Act of 2009 has been reinstated temporarily to prevent any legal gap in the functioning of the commission.

The minister reaffirmed that the government is working to establish a stronger institutional framework that ensures accountability and protects fundamental rights across the country.