The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Bangladesh is an autonomous public body established in 2007 to advocate for and protect human rights.
History National Human Rights Commission was established on 9 December 2007 by the Caretaker government of Bangladesh. The organization was constituted under the provisions of the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance. It was reestablished by the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2009 after the original ordinance lapsed. Then it was reconstituted in 2009 as a national advocacy institution for human rights promotion and protection. It is committed to the accomplishment of human rights in a broader sense, including dignity, worth and freedom of every human being, as enshrined in the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and different international human rights conventions and treaties to which Bangladesh is a signatory. Consecutive administrations in Bangladesh have developed policies aimed at empowering women, incorporating this objective into their broader agendas while honoring their commitments to global development objectives.
In 2025, under the Interim government of Muhammad Yunus, an ordinance was drafted which gives the organization new duties and powers such as investigation, prosecution, legal representation of complainants. The new ordinance allows the organization to arrest and investigate suspects regardless of rank or political position independently.
Emergence as a powerful organization The NHRC was legally banned from investigating members of law enforcement since 2009, which was removed under the Interim government of Muhammad Yunus through a new ordinance in 2025.
The ordinance also gives the organization new powers such as visiting and searching facilities to identify secret detention centres. It can also issue warrants to inspect prisons or other premises where enforced disappearances could have taken place.
The rights commission can also authorise law enforcers to make arrests with the ordinance stating investigating officers cannot be part of the organization that is being investigated.
These changes have been considered revolutionary to tackle human rights abuses.
Organization The President of Bangladesh appoints the chairman and members of the commission based on the recommendations of a seven-member selection committee headed by the Speaker of Parliament.
+ Former chairman and members Name Designation Term Reference Kamal Uddin Ahmed Chairman 8 December 2022 – 7 November 2024 Nasima Begum Chairman 22 September 2019 – 23 September 2022 Md Nazrul Islam Acting Chairman 2 July 2019 – 6 August 2019 Kazi Reazul Hoque Chairman 2 August 2016 – 1 July 2019 Mizanur Rahman Chairman 23 June 2010 – 23 June 2016 Md Nazrul Islam Full Time Member August 2016 – 6 August 2019 Kazi Reazul Hoque Full Time Member June 2010 – 23 June 2016 Nurun Naher Osmani Member 2 August 2016 – 2 August 2019 Enamul Hoque Chowdhury Member 2 August 2016 – 2 August 2019 Akhter Hussain Member 2 August 2016 – 2 August 2019 Meghna Guhathakurta Member 2 August 2016 – 2 August 2019 Banchita Chakma Member 2 August 2016 – 8 August 2019 Mahfuza Khanam Member 23 June 2010 – 23 June 2016 Selina Hossain Member 23 June 2010 – 23 June 2016 Aroma Datta Member 23 June 2010 – 23 June 2016 Fauzia Karim Firoz Member 23 June 2010 – 23 June 2016 Nirupa Dewan Member 23 June 2010 – 23 June 2016
Activities It lodged complaints against Border Security Forces of India over Felani Killing with the National Human Rights Commission of India. It holds surveys regarding perceptions about human rights in Bangladesh. It campaigns against human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings in Bangladesh.
References