Maximum penalty for enforced disappearance set as death sentence

The Advisory Council of the interim government has given final approval to the draft of the Prevention, Remedy and Protection of Enforced Disappearance Ordinance 2025. The proposed law includes a provision for the death penalty as the maximum punishment for committing enforced disappearance.

Approval for the related ordinance was given at a meeting of the Advisory Council.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced this at a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Thursday, November 6, after the meeting.

At the press conference, he said that the Advisory Council has also given final approval to the National Logistics Policy. The new ordinance includes a provision for the death penalty for the crime of enforced disappearance.

In addition, the National Human Rights Commission has been authorised to investigate cases of enforced disappearance. He stated that with this law in place, no government will be able to establish a reign of enforced disappearance in the country anymore.

He said that the Advisory Council has also given final approval to the National Logistics Policy. The new ordinance includes the provision of the death penalty for enforced disappearance. In addition, the National Human Rights Commission has been authorised to investigate cases of enforced disappearance. He also stated that with this law, no government will be able to establish a reign of disappearances in the country anymore.

The press secretary said that there had been considerable debate for a long time over introducing a law for the prevention and remedy of enforced disappearance. After that, the final approval was granted today. The ordinance defines enforced disappearance and treats it as a continuing offence, with provisions for severe punishment, including the death penalty.

He further said that the establishment of secret detention centres, known as “Aynaghar,” has been declared a punishable offence. The National Human Rights Commission has been empowered to receive and investigate complaints related to enforced disappearance. The ordinance also includes provisions requiring the completion of trials within 120 days of filing a case in the tribunal, ensuring the protection of victims and witnesses, and guaranteeing compensation and legal assistance.

In addition, provisions have been added to establish a fund and a database to prevent, remedy, and protect against enforced disappearance.

Shafiqul Alam said that several issues were discussed at the meeting today. The draft and final approval of the National Logistics Policy were completed, and discussions were also held on the National Urban Policy, though no decision has yet been made. Moreover, the list of public holidays for 2026 was approved today.

He said that final approval was granted today for the Prevention, Remedy and Protection of Enforced Disappearance Ordinance 2025. During the tenure of Sheikh Hasina, thousands of people were subjected to enforced disappearance in Bangladesh. The commission formed to investigate disappearances has received nearly two thousand complaints, and members of that commission have repeatedly stated in their reports that the actual number exceeds four hundred. There were hundreds of secret detention centres in the country where these victims were held. Some of those who were disappeared have returned, while many have not. You know that many BNP activists have still not returned.

He further stated that there is an international convention regarding enforced disappearance called the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. On August 29 last year, the Advisory Council of Bangladesh approved joining this convention, making Bangladesh a party to it. The ordinance has been drafted following this international convention. He described it as a historic law for Bangladesh, saying that as a result, no fascist government will ever again be able to establish a reign of enforced disappearances in the country, nor will any Aynaghar be created.

Assistant Press Secretaries Fayez Ahmed and Suchismita Tithi were present at the time.