NHRC remains defunct for 8 months

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), established in 2009 as Bangladesh’s primary state institution for the protection of human rights, has effectively become inactive and leaderless. For the past eight months, this vital institution has remained non-functional.

On August 5 of last year, following the fall of the previous government, the chairpersons and members of several constitutional and statutory bodies—including the Election Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, Law Commission, and National Human Rights Commission—resigned. While other commissions have since been reconstituted, the NHRC has yet to receive any new appointments for its chairperson or member positions. According to United Nations principles, a national human rights commission must remain functional at all times, and leadership positions should never be left vacant.

Meanwhile, more than 500 complaints related to extrajudicial killings, rape, attacks on minorities, and other violations remain unresolved at the commission. During this time, the human rights situation in the country has visibly deteriorated. Data from the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) shows that between August 2024 and February 2025—under the interim government—there were 114 incidents of mob violence across the country, resulting in 119 deaths and 74 injuries. In Gopalganj alone, at least five people were reportedly killed by police gunfire. Rape, murder, abductions, and armed robberies have become near-daily occurrences. Yet, the NHRC has issued no statements, reports, or initiated any proactive investigations regarding these incidents.

This absence of leadership and institutional inactivity has sparked renewed criticism and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the commission. Many are asking whether the government truly considers the NHRC to be a body of national importance.

In January, noted jurist Dr. Shahdeen Malik commented to the media on the commission’s paralysis, stating, “The NHRC is practically defunct due to the absence of a chairperson and members. The government clearly does not consider the commission important. Had it been considered vital, it would have been reactivated long ago.”

Professor Ali Riaz, Chair of the Constitution Reform Commission, told Views Bangladesh, “It is crucial to keep the Human Rights Commission functional under any circumstances. Keeping it inactive is completely unacceptable.”

In addition to the NHRC, the role of other non-governmental human rights organizations in the country has also come under scrutiny. Many groups that were once vocal against state injustice have now become conspicuously silent, a development that has disheartened the public.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of the civil society platform Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Citizens for Good Governance), told Views Bangladesh, “For several months now, both the National Human Rights Commission and the Information Commission have been practically non-functional. This is deeply concerning and a dangerous sign for democratic institutions.”

The only notable exception has been Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), which continues to actively work on human rights issues as before.