The Advisory Council of the interim government has given in-principle approval to the draft of the ‘Disappearance Prevention, Remedy and Protection Ordinance, 2025’. The proposed law has made strict provisions for punishment including death penalty for the crime of disappearance.
The draft of the ordinance was given in-principle approval in the meeting of the Advisory Council today, Thursday. However, the draft will be taken up again for final approval after further discussion.
In addition, the meeting of the Advisory Council approved the proposal to declare three land ports closed and suspend the operational activities of one land port.
The 40th meeting of the Advisory Council was held in the morning at the office of the Chief Advisor in Tejgaon in the capital under the chairmanship of Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus. Later, the decision of the meeting was announced by the Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
Shafiqul Alam said, the draft of the Prevention, Remedy and Protection of Disappearances Ordinance has considered disappearance as an ongoing crime with a definition and strict punishments including death penalty have been made. The establishment or use of secret detention centers has been declared a punishable offense. The National Human Rights Commission has been given the power to receive and investigate complaints related to disappearances.
The proposed ordinance also provides for the formation of a special tribunal for the prevention, remedy and protection of disappearances, the obligation to complete the trial within 120 days of the filing of the complaint, protection of the rights of victims, informants and witnesses, compensation of the victims and guarantee of legal assistance.
Shafiqul Alam said, only in-principle approval has been given today. This will be discussed further and will be brought for final approval.
The three land ports that have been declared closed
It was informed at the press conference that the three land ports that were decided to be closed in the meeting of the Advisory Council are Chilahati Land Port in Nilphamari, Daulatganj Land Port in Chuadanga and Tegamukh Land Port in Rangamati. In addition, it has been decided to suspend the operational activities of Balla Land Port in Chunarughat Upazila of Habiganj district.
In addition, the meeting of the Advisory Council approved the proposal to declare October 17, Lalon Sai’s ‘Tirodhan Dibas’, as a ‘A’ category day.
Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Senior Assistant Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor Faiz Ahmed were present at the press conference.
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