Govt approves draft law to prevent enforced disappearances

The government has given policy approval to the draft of the Enforced Disappearance Prevention, Remedies, and Protection Ordinance, 2025, aimed at eliminating the occurrence of enforced disappearances in Bangladesh.

The announcement was made by Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, during a media briefing held on Thursday afternoon at the Foreign Service Academy auditorium. The approval came during the 40th meeting of the Advisory Council.

"The government is actively working on legislation to ensure that enforced disappearances become a thing of the past in Bangladesh," said the press secretary.

In the same meeting, several decisions concerning land ports under the Ministry of Shipping were also approved. These include the formal closure of the Chilahati, Daulatganj, and Tegamukh land ports. Additionally, a proposal to suspend operations at the Balla land port was approved. Alam noted that no activities are currently taking place at these ports. Discussions on the status of four more ports will be held at a later date.

Meanwhile, the Advisory Council also approved a proposal from the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to observe October 17 every year as a Category ‘Ka’ day, marking the death anniversary of the mystic bard Lalon Sai. Until now, only the birth and death anniversaries of Kazi Nazrul Islam and Rabindranath Tagore held such designation.

Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar, Senior Assistant Press Secretary Fayez Ahmed, and other officials were present at the briefing.