The cabinet has given final approval to the draft of the "National Human Rights Commission Act, 2026", which includes provisions to form a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) unit to prevent custodial torture, death, and enforced disappearance.

The proposed draft empowers the commission to issue interim orders to ensure effective investigations, protect the immediate security of victims, and prevent harm while an inquiry is underway.

The draft law was approved today at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat. The cabinet also gave final approval to the "Bank Resolution (Amendment) Act, 2026" and the "National Visa Policy, 2026".

According to a Cabinet Division press release, the provision to form the NPM unit to prevent custodial torture, death, or enforced disappearance is in line with the United Nations' "Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture" (OPCAT).

During the tenure of the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, the "National Human Rights Commission Act, 2009" was amended to formulate the "National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025". As the BNP-led government did not turn the ordinance into a law, it stood cancelled. Following this, the draft of the "National Human Rights Commission Act, 2026" was approved by the cabinet today.

The proposed draft provides for a commission consisting of a chairperson and four commissioners, with at least one woman among them. It also prioritises qualified candidates from ethnic minorities and underprivileged communities, based on the recommendations of a search committee.

The search committee for reconstituting the commission must include university professors, civil society representatives, and representatives from ethnic minorities or underprivileged communities, the release added.