Three major bills, including two aimed at strengthening human rights protection and another allowing parents to transfer property while retaining lifetime rights to use it, were passed in parliament on Sunday amid opposition dissent.
Opposition MPs walked out before the passage of the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Bill, 2026, and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Bill, 2026, while briefly leaving the House during the passage of the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
All three bills were passed by voice vote despite their objections.
The Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Bill, 2026, seeks to prevent enforced disappearances, while the NHRC Bill, 2026, contains measures aimed at strengthening the commission. Both were passed despite criticism from rights organisations.
The third legislation, the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposes changes to the century-old Transfer of Property Act, 1882.
Under the enforced disappearance bill, responsibility for investigating cases of enforced disappearance will rest with the police. A case filed under the law will be investigated by a designated investigation officer, usually of sub-inspector rank. An ordinance promulgated by the interim government had empowered the NHRC to investigate enforced disappearance cases.
The NHRC bill also limits the commission’s power to directly investigate allegations of human rights violations committed by disciplined forces.
The Transfer of Property (Amendment) Bill provides that when a parent or grandparent gifts property to a child or grandchild, or vice versa, or when a husband or wife gifts property to their spouse, the donor may retain the right to use and enjoy the property during their lifetime.
Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman moved the NHRC and property transfer bills, while Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed introduced the enforced disappearance bill.
At about 8:10pm, Jamaat and other opposition MPs left the House just before the NHRC and enforced disappearance bills were placed. Before the bills were placed, opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman took the floor and announced the walkout.
After walking out over the rights bills, opposition MPs left the House with black cloths covering their mouths. The Transfer of Property Bill was then put to a public opinion vote. When the opposition leader sought the floor, the Speaker refused. Within seconds, all opposition MPs left the chamber, only to return a few minutes later.
The enforced disappearance and NHRC bills were tabled in parliament on August 27, prompting another opposition walkout before their introduction. The opposition subsequently boycotted discussions on the bills in the respective parliamentary standing committees.
Since the cabinet approved the draft laws on enforced disappearances and the Human Rights Commission, human rights activists, political parties and various groups have consistently voiced concerns over them.
During the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus, three ordinances were promulgated -- the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024; the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025; and the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.
BNP government repealed all three during the first session of the 13th parliament and reinstated the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2009 through fresh legislation.
Similarly, two ordinances on enforced disappearances lapsed after parliament failed to ratify them within the constitutional timeframe.
The government has since moved to reintroduce fresh legislation on both issues.
