Staff Reporter :
The government has announced plans to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission aimed at addressing past atrocities and ensuring that individuals involved in crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity are isolated from mainstream society.
Law Adviser Asif Nazrul made the announcement on Saturday during a meeting on the draft of the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedies Ordinance, 2025 (Second Draft) at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka.
Nazrul emphasized the urgent need for the commission, stating that its formation would help bring justice and offer a chance for national healing.
“There is a strong need for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It would probably have been better if we had established this in our country since 1972,” he said, stressing the importance of a professional and structured approach to resolve the nation’s painful past.
The commission’s goal, Nazrul clarified, would be not only to deliver justice but also to ensure that those responsible for war crimes and severe human rights violations are ostracised from society.
He noted that the idea for such a commission had been strongly advocated by political analyst and writer Farhad Mazhar, and confirmed that Mazhar would be invited to participate in the commission’s formation.
In his remarks, Nazrul revealed that he, along with the Chief Justice and a team, would visit South Africa to study the post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a model which has been widely regarded as successful in fostering national unity and justice.
He further explained that while the perpetrators of such crimes may not be numerous, the establishment of the commission would affirm the government’s commitment to justice and national unity.
“Even if it is just to establish that they are ostracised, we must form a Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” he asserted.
The announcement has sparked renewed public debate about past efforts at similar initiatives. In 2008, the Fakhruddin Ahmed-led caretaker government established the Truth and Accountability Commission to investigate corruption during the political emergency.
However, the commission faced significant criticism from Transparency International Bangladesh for its arbitrary collection of fines, and it was later declared illegal by the High Court.
As the new proposal moves forward, stakeholders are awaiting further details regarding its scope, powers, and how it will distinguish itself from previous efforts. Despite this, the government’s decision is being viewed as a potentially transformative step toward justice and reconciliation in Bangladesh.
