Govt okays ordinance allowing official 'disappeared' status after 5 years

The interim government today (18 December) approved the draft of the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, which allows a person to be officially declared "disappeared" if their whereabouts remain unknown for five years.

The Advisory Council gave the approval at its weekly meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office with  Muhammad Yunus in the chair, according to the Chief Adviser's Press Wing.

The council approved the 'Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress (amendment) Ordinance 2025' with a provision that if a disappeared person remains missing for at least five years and does not return alive, the tribunal will be able to officially declare the person as "disappeared".

Under the ordinance, the government will be able to appoint the required number of public prosecutors for the 'Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Tribunal based on recommendations from the National Human Rights Commission. 

Victims or complainants will also be allowed to appoint lawyers to the tribunal at their own initiative. In addition, the spouse of a disappeared person or any dependent family member will be able to use the property of the disappeared person without prior approval from the commission.

The Advisory Council also gave approval to the draft of the Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Conservation Ordinance 2025, specifying the responsibilities, authority, and jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development Department.

The ordinance also included provisions for issuing protection orders to conserve biodiversity, environment, ecology, and ecosystems of haor and wetland areas. 

It includes provisions for declaring protected haor and wetland areas to ensure their conservation.

In addition, the ordinance specifies prohibited activities in haor and wetland areas, declares such (prohibited) activities as offenses if committed, and provides for penalties for those offenses. 

The law makes mandatory to seek the opinion of the Department, subject to specified exceptions, when implementing development projects in haor and wetland areas. 

The ordinance also grants authority to formulate rules, regulations, and guidelines to ensure coordination with other authorities or agencies, involvement of local stakeholders, and their inclusion in conservation activities where necessary.

The Council of Advisers approved another proposal to establish a new Bangladesh embassy in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.

Since independence, Bangladesh has had a permanent mission in Geneva. Despite most countries having embassies in Bern, Bangladesh did not, and as a result, both United Nations-related work and embassy functions had long been handled by the permanent mission in Geneva. 

Switzerland is an important development partner and strategic partner of Bangladesh, the Press Wing said, adding, considering these factors, the decision was taken to establish an embassy in Bern. 

Initially, the embassy will begin operations with the appointment of an ambassador, a first secretary, and several officials and staff. To date, Bangladesh has 82 mission offices in different countries around the world.

The meeting also discussed the health condition of Sharif Osman Hadi, the fearless frontline fighter of the July Uprising and spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha. 

The meeting was informed that Hadi's condition remains extremely critical while Singapore's Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has been maintaining regular contact with the Chief Adviser to provide updates. 

A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh went to Singapore on Wednesday. Now the official is directly overseeing Hadi's treatment.

At the meeting, the Council of Advisers extended special thanks to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs for organising this year's Victory Day celebrations in a beautiful and orderly manner.