BNP pledges 'Truth and Healing Commission' if elected
Truth and reconciliation-style commissions have previously been used in several countries to address past injustices
BNP has pledged to form a 'Truth and Healing Commission' if voted to power in the upcoming national polls, according to its election manifesto unveiled today (6 February).
The proposed commission appears in the state reform section of the manifesto under the theme of democracy and nation-building.
The primary objective of the commission is to establish a forward-looking new political culture in opposition to politics driven by vengeance and retribution.
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Through this commission, plans have been outlined to put an end to political and social divisions and to build a unified national identity based on Bangladeshi nationalism, where everyone's identity will be "We are all Bangladeshis".
The BNP said it believes that genuine nation-building is possible only by transcending divisions and forging a united and indivisible national identity, and it is with this goal in mind that the party has pledged to establish the 'Truth and Healing Commission'.
Truth and reconciliation-style commissions have previously been used in several countries to address past injustices. South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), formed in 1995 after the end of apartheid, is among the most notable examples.
According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, the TRC investigated human rights violations committed between 1960 and 1994, provided victims with a platform to share their experiences, granted amnesty in certain cases, created an impartial historical record and recommended reparations. It comprised 17 commissioners and operated through committees on human rights violations, reparations and rehabilitation, and amnesty.
BNP's 51-point manifesto
Announced under the banner "Korbo Kaj, Gorbo Desh" (We will work, we will build the nation), the 51-point BNP manifesto carries the slogan "Shobar Ageh Bangladesh" (Bangladesh Before All).
It is divided into five chapters outlining what the party described as a governance roadmap if elected.
The manifesto – pledging to implement nine major commitments aimed at rebuilding the country over the next five years – was unveiled by the party's Chairman Tarique Rahman at a hotel in the capital this afternoon.
In its manifesto, the BNP has identified good governance as the top priority of state reform, with a strong focus on combating corruption and establishing the rule of law.
The party has proposed systemic reforms to curb corruption, including the introduction of open tender processes, real-time audits, and measures to prevent money laundering and recover laundered funds from abroad.
To enhance state accountability and transparency, the BNP has promised to appoint an ombudsman (Naypal).
The manifesto also commits to ensuring justice for all human rights violations, including those related to the July-August 2024 mass uprising, preventing enforced disappearances, and guaranteeing the effective independence of the judiciary.
Additionally, the party has pledged to depoliticise public administration and restore professionalism by forming an Administrative Reform Commission, promoting merit-based recruitment, and building what it describes as a "meritocratic Bangladesh."
The manifesto further proposes the establishment of a Police Commission to transform the police into an independent and citizen-friendly force, along with expanding online complaint mechanisms to strengthen accountability.
