Political parties’ pledge for truth commission could foster national unity

As Bangladesh approaches election day, there is growing hope that this moment can be more than a contest for power. It can mark the beginning of a new chapter in how the nation confronts its past and nurtures its future. Winning an election should be understood not as an endpoint, but as the start of deeper accountability, healing, and trust-building among political parties.

For too long, political change has followed familiar patterns. Rhetoric promising reform has often given way to stalled progress and lingering public frustration. Yet, in a notable shift, several political parties' manifestos now acknowledge the importance of addressing past harms, restoring dignity to victims, and pursuing restorative justice. This signals an encouraging change in the national dialogue. Credit is due to these parties for affirming their commitment to establishing a Truth and Healing Commission.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), in its 51-point manifesto, has pledged to establish a Truth and Healing Commission if elected, aimed at ensuring a victim-centred and restorative justice process. According to the manifesto, the commission would work to uncover the truth behind human rights violations committed during the fascist era, guarantee meaningful compensation for those who were tortured or harmed, and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable and punished through due process.

Similarly, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, in its 41-point manifesto, explicitly commits to a truth-seeking mechanism by pledging to "form a Truth and Healing Commission based on restorative justice". To implement this, it proposes the creation of a task force with representation from different levels of Bangladeshi society, supported by technical assistance from the United Nations (UN). Through this initiative, the manifesto states, the truth about human rights violations committed over the past 15 years will be revealed, helping to open a new chapter for the nation.

The National Citizen Party's (NCP) 36-point manifesto similarly commits to establishing an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission to oversee the implementation of the July Charter provisions requiring legislative and administrative reforms. It also highlights the need to ensure justice for crimes against humanity, including killings, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial actions.

Taken together, these commitments reflect a growing recognition across political platforms that true healing and national unity require confronting past injuries directly rather than sidelining them. They signal an openness to justice approaches that centre the dignity of victims and uphold the rule of law.

At the same time, it is important to recognise that truth and reconciliation processes must not be rushed. Establishing a commission simply to meet public demand or fulfil an electoral pledge risks rendering it symbolic rather than transformative. Victims deserve far more than a hurried response. They deserve a process that is thorough, credible, and sensitive to the long-term nature of trauma. A thoughtful, evidence-based approach, with strong legal safeguards and adequate psycho-spiritual support, is essential.

However, patience must not become an excuse for indefinite delay. Justice that is endlessly postponed becomes justice denied. While the process should be deliberate and credible, it must also be firmly committed to timely action with concrete outcomes, so that accountability and healing go hand in hand.

In this effort, Bangladesh also has an opportunity to draw on international experience. The presence of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN OHCHR) team in Bangladesh may serve as a supportive resource, particularly in sharing technical guidance on victim-centred approaches, documentation practices, and global standards on accountability and witness protection. Such support can complement national efforts, but leadership and ownership of the process must remain firmly with Bangladeshis. Healing must be locally rooted, nationally led, and reflective of the country's shared history and culture.

After the election, the newly elected government should establish a task force led by the National Human Rights Commission, UN OHCHR, the July Smriti Museum, victim groups, and civil society organisations. This task force could guide the government in developing a clear roadmap towards the formation of a Truth and Healing Commission.

Justice is ultimately about restoring trust in institutions, reaffirming respect for human dignity, and rebuilding the moral legitimacy of the state. If political parties follow through on their commitments in both word and deed, Bangladesh can move beyond selective memory and build a future grounded in accountability, healing, and restorative justice.

Dr Muhammad Asadullah is an associate professor in the Department of Justice Studies at the University of Regina, Canada, and a visiting professor at the University of Dhaka.

Tajriyaan Akram Hussain is an advocate at the District and Sessions Judge Court in Dhaka, a national junior consultant at UN OHCHR, and a member of the National Elections Inquiry Commission.

Nousheen Sharmila Ritu is the executive director of the UK-based think tank Bangladesh 2.0 Initiative.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.