Dhaka: Opposition lawmakers on Sunday boycotted the discussion on the National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026, alleging that the government is pushing the legislation through a 'one-sided' process by ignoring the views of political parties, rights organizations, and civil society. The opposition MPs refused to participate in the discussion during a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the committee convened its third meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, reviewing the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Bill, 2026, alongside the National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026. Jamaat-e-Islami parliamentary spokesperson Md Najibur Rahman expressed the opposition's decision to abstain from any stage of the bill's passage, criticizing it as inconsistent with international human rights conventions and intended to weaken the National Human Rights Commission. Despite their boycott, opposition members engaged in discussions regarding the Property Transfer Bill during the same meeting.
Speaking to reporters after leaving the meeting, Najibur Rahman highlighted that an initiative had been taken during the interim government to reform human rights laws to strengthen the legal framework. However, he asserted that the proposed bill includes provisions that would further undermine the National Human Rights Commission rather than fortify it. Rahman also criticized the directive requiring the parliamentary committee to submit its report on the bill within only two working days, arguing that this timeframe does not allow committee members to express their independent opinions.
Rahman alleged that the committee has effectively been reduced to a 'rubber stamp', making it impossible for the opposition to remain involved in the process. He labeled the proposed legislation as 'controversial' and a 'black law', arguing that it fails to provide adequate protection for citizens whose human rights may be violated by law enforcement agencies. The opposition believes parliamentary committees should maintain sufficient independence to scrutinize legislation and express their views freely.
Rahman further alleged that there were instances in the past when government lawmakers attempted to give independent opinions or submit notes of dissent in parliamentary committees but were subsequently asked at the highest level of government to withdraw those notes. He described this as a process of 'parliamentary fascism,' warning that transforming parliamentary committees into rubber stamps is detrimental to democracy and could pave the way for authoritarian practices.
The National Human Rights Commission Act was originally enacted in 2009. During the interim government's tenure, the law was amended, and a new ordinance was issued, which the 13th Parliament later repealed, restoring the 2009 law. On Thursday, Law Minister Asaduzzaman placed the National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026, in Parliament, seeking to repeal the 2009 Act and enact new legislation. The bill was then sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs with instructions to submit its report within two working days. Najibur Rahman stated that the opposition intends to boycott discussions on the National Human Rights Bill when it is addressed in Parliament.