The National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh is an independent national institution that promotes and protects human rights. It was reconstituted in 2009 to advocate for human rights in accordance with Bangladesh's constitution and international treaties. The NHRC investigates human rights violations, provides access to justice, promotes human rights education, and monitors Bangladesh's implementation of international treaties. It can inquire into complaints, provide legal aid, recommend policies to the government, and settle disputes through mediation. Since being established, the NHRC has conducted research, raised awareness of human rights, and worked to improve compliance of Bangladesh's laws with international standards.
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The National Human Right Commission Bangladesh 2009
2. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Bangladesh is an
independent national advocacy institution for human rights promotion
and protection. The mandate emanates from the Constitution of the
People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Human Rights Commission Act and
the international human rights instruments to which Bangladesh is a
party. The basic human rights are covered by Section 2(f) of the Human
Rights Commission Act, including the right to life, liberty, equality,
dignity. The Commission enjoys the power of a civil court in case of any
inquiry or investigation and can appoint mediators according to its
established rules in order to settle a dispute relating to human rights
violations. It can also review matters pending before a court, or
referred to it by one, as well as revisit existing laws of the land and
recommend amending any discrepancy for better and more effective
protection and promotion of human rights.
OVERVIEW
3. The National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh 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.
The purpose of establishing such splendid institution is to contribute to
the embodiment of human dignity and integrity as well as to the
safeguard of the basic order of democracy so that inalienable
fundamental human rights of all individuals are protected and the
standards of human rights are improved in the country.
ESTABLISHMENT OF NHRC
4. The mechanism can be accessed by anybody, or on the behalf of
anybody whose rights have been violated by a person, state or
government agency, institution, organization or a public servant. The
NHRC can also, upon its own discretion, request a report from the
Disciplinary Forces or the Law Enforcing Agencies, or any other
governmental body or servant.
WHO CAN ACCESS IT?
5. The NHRC follows the comprehensive mandate outlined in the National Human Rights Commission Act,
2009. The cruxes of the functions of the Commission are: investigation and inquiry, recommendation, legal
aid and human rights advocacy, research and training on human rights laws, norms and practices. To
elaborate, in order to promote and protect human rights the Commission performs the following functions:
I. Developing human rights policies through conducting human rights research and issuing legal and
administrative policy recommendations;
II. Analyzing laws, policies and practices from a human rights perspective;
III. Investigating human rights violation cases and providing access to justice;
IV. Promoting human rights education and raising public awareness about perception of human rights;
V. Promoting, monitoring and comparing the national standard and implementation of international
human rights treaties;
VI. Co-operating with government agencies, civil society organizations, UN human rights bodies and
national human rights institutions;
VII. Settlement of complaints having the tendency of violation of human rights through mediation,
providing legal aid if possible to the aggrieved party;
VIII. Lodging or help to lodge petitions in the apex court;
IX. Sensitizing law enforcing agencies through human rights training;
Other matters deemed necessary to protect and promote human rights.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NHRC
6. The Commission can lodge application to the High Court Division if the
case fits with the conditions of filing writ petitions under the
Constitution. Apart from suggesting legal remedy, the Commission is
endowed with the power to make recommendations to the government
to provide temporary grant to the aggrieved person or his family.
Other than that, the Commission can reach settlement of complaints
having the tendency of violation of human rights through mediation,
providing legal aid if possible to the aggrieved party.
OUTCOME
7. o The NHRC drafted its first five years strategic plan.
o The NHRC conducted a survey to assess the human rights situation in Bangladesh.
o The NHRC conducted a series of research to assess the compliance of national laws with core
international human rights instruments.
o The NHRC provided recommendations on specific legislation to relevant ministries to ensure that
the current laws in Bangladesh are consistent with the international human rights standards and
best practices
o The NHRC submitted its first stakeholder Universal Periodic Review report to the Human Rights
Council in 2012 following national consultations on key human rights issues.
o The NHRC conducted campaigns to raise awareness about human rights at the grassroots level
and conducted human rights training for key stakeholders such as human rights defenders,
journalists, and law enforcement officials.
o The NHRC has developed an online complaints management system and procedures on complaints
handling.
o The NHRC visited prisons, schools, hospitals and made recommendations to the government to
address human rights violations.
The NHRC is now known in the wider international community, with connections established with
the International Coordinating Committee for NHRIs and regional bodies such as the Asia Pacific
Forum.
THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF NHRC
8. 5. Formation of the Commission:
(1) The Commission shall consist of a Chairman and Members not exceeding six.
(2) Chairman and one Member of the Commission shall be full time and other Members shall be honorary.
(3) Among the Members at least one shall be woman and one shall be from the ethnic group.
(4) Chairman shall be the Chief Executive of the Commission
6. Appointment, terms of office, resignation, etc of the Chairman and Members of the
Commission:
(1) The President shall, upon recommendation of the Selection Committee, appoint the Chairman and Members of the
Commission, provided that, no person shall be qualified for appointment to the post of the Chairman or a Member of the
Commission if he is less than 35 years of age and over 70 years of age.
(2) The Chairman and the Members of the Commission shall, subject to the provisions of this section, be appointed from
amongst the persons who have remarkable contribution in the field of legal or judicial activities, human rights, education,
social service or human development.
(3) The Chairman and Members of the Commission shall hold office for a term of three years from the date on which he enters
upon his office; provided that a person shall not be appointed for more than two terms as a Chairman or Member of the
Commission.
(4) The Chairman or any Member of the Commission may, before completion of his tenure as stated in sub-section (3), resign
his office by writing under his hand addressed to the President.
(5) If a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chairman or if the Chairman is unable to discharge the function of his office on
account of absence, illness or any other reason, the Full Time Member of the Commission shall act as Chairman until a newly
appointed Chairman holds office or until the Chairman resumes the function of his office, as the case may be.
SOME IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF NHRC
9. (1) The Commission shall perform all or any of the following functions, namely:
(a) to inquire, a complaint of violation of human rights or abetment thereof, by a person, state or
government agency or institution or organization;
(b) to inquire, a petition presented by the person affected or any person on his behalf
(c) To inspect any jail or any other places where persons are detained.
(d) To review the safeguards of human.
(f) To research or study treaties and other international instruments on human rights and to
make recommendation to the government for their effective implementation;
(h) To give advice to the Government for ratifying or signing the international human rights
instruments and to ensure their implementation;
(l) To enquire and investigate into complaint related to the violation or probability of violation of
human rights and resolve the issue through mediation and conciliation.
(m) To advise and assist the Government by providing necessary legal and administrative
directions for protection and promotion of human rights.
(2) (a) Issues relating to the cases being tried before a court;
(b) Issues being considered by the ombudsman under the ombudsman Act, 1980(XV of
1980);
(c) any issue relating to the service matters of the public servants of the Republic and any
employee engaged in the service of a statutory government authority.
SECTION-12. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION
10. (1) If any issue is sent under this Act for mediation or conciliation, the
Commission shall appoint one or more persons to mediate or conciliate
between the parties.
(2) The procedure of appointment and power of the mediator and
conciliator shall be determined by rules.
(3) The Commission may order the concerned parties to be present before
the mediator or conciliator for mediation or conciliation.
(4) The sessions of the mediators and conciliators may be held in open or in
camera.
(5) If the issue is not resolved through mediation or conciliation or any
party objects for the mediation or arbitration, the mediator or arbitrator
shall inform the matter to the Commission.
(6) If there is a settlement through mediation or conciliation, the mediator
or conciliator shall inform the matter to the Commission.
(7) In order to execute the settlement made under sub-section (6), the
Commission may, along with other instructions, give instruction of
imposing fine as it deems appropriate.
SECTION-15. APPOINTMENT OF MEDIATORS OR CONCILIATORS
11. 1. The Commission shall have the following powers of the Civil Courts
as specified in the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (Act no. 5 of 1908) for the
purposes of investigation and inquiry under this Act, namely:-
(a) Summoning and ensuring the attendance of witnesses and
examining them;
(b) Summoning for giving written or oral evidence by oath.
(c) Summoning any person living in Bangladesh to give evidence being
present before any meeting of the Commission and to produce any
document which remains in his possessions;
(d) Providing authorization for or against the public participation in an
investigation or inquiry.
SECTION- 16. POWERS RELATING TO INQUIRIES
12. 17. Investigation into complaint:
(1) The Commission, while investigating into the complaints of violation against human rights, may call for the report
or information from the Government or any authority of the Government or any other organization within the time
specified by the Commission.
(2) If the Commission does not receive the report or information within the time specified under Sub-section (1), the
Commission may, on its own, start investigation.
(3) On receipt of information under sub-section (1) if the Commission
(a) is satisfied that there is no necessity of further investigation; or
(b) The Government or the Authority, as the case may be, has taken proper action or has started initiative to take up
proper action – then the Commission will not proceed to make any inquiry into the matters.
18. Procedure to be followed in case of disciplined force:
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Commission on suo-moto or on the basis of any application
may call for report from the Government on the allegation of violation of human rights by the disciplined force or any of
its members.
(2) If any report is called for under Sub-section (1), the Government shall submit the report to the Commission.
(3) On receipt of the report under Subsection (2), the Commission
(a) if satisfied, would not proceed in the matter any further.
(b) if it deems necessary, may make recommendation to the Government for actions to be taken into the matter.
(4) On receipt of the recommendation under subsection (3) the Government shall inform the Commission in writing
about the action taken into the matter within six months from the date of receipt of the recommendation.
(5) On receipt of the report under sub-section (4) the Commission shall furnish its copy to the Complainant or his
representative, as the case may be.
SEC-17. INVESTIGATION INTO COMPLAINT
SEC- 18. PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED IN CASE OF DISCIPLINED FORCE:
13. (1) Notwithstanding anything contrary contained in the Act, if the Commission finds the complaint is
true, after concluding the inquiry, the Commission may,
(a) recommend to the Government to initiate proceeding for prosecution or take such other legal action
against the concerned person and, at the same time, shall describe the type of case or other appropriate
legal proceedings in the recommendation.
(b) submit or cause to submit a petition before the High Court Division of the Supreme Court on behalf
of the aggrieved person if it is competent to pass order or to give instruction under Article 102 of the
Constitution.
(2) The Commission may under sub-section (1) recommend to the Government or concerned authority
to sanction such amount of temporary grant to the victim or his family as the Commission may consider
appropriate.
(3) The Commission shall provide a copy of the inquiry report to the aggrieved person or his
representative.
(4) The Commission shall send a copy of the inquiry report with recommendations made under sub-
section (1) and (2) to the Government or to the concerned authority and the Government or the
concerned authority shall, within a period of three months from receiving the report, inform the
Commission about the action taken or proposed to be taken thereon; provided that, if the Government
or the authority contradicts with the Commission, or fails or denies to take decision according to the
recommendations of the Commission, the Government or the authority shall inform the Commission
about the reasons of such contradiction, inability or denial within the aforesaid time limit.
(5) The Commission shall publish the summary of its inquiry report and its decision or
recommendation on the report, in such manner as it thinks fit; provided that, if the Commission is
satisfied that it is necessary to publish the whole or any part thereof for general information
considering its importance, it shall publish the whole or any part of the report, as the case may be;
provided further that, if the Commission is satisfied that, it is not necessary to publish the summary of
any report, it shall not be necessary to publish anything of the said report.
(6) The Commission shall have the right to intervene in any proceeding involving allegation of violation
of human rights pending before any court or in any legal proceeding.
SECTION- 19. PROCEDURE AFTER INQUIRY:
14. National Human Rights Commission Act, 2009 in consonance with
Bangladesh’s commitment to international human rights law, the
Commission serves as a mechanism for the enrichment of the
realization of human rights. Its journey is aimed at creating a culture of
human rights through public enlightenment on diverse human rights
issues so that the people of the country can contribute to larger peace
and security keeping in pace with the ‘progressive aspirations of human
kind.’
CONCLUSIONS