Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Bangladesh Laws Weaken Human Rights Safeguards, Human Rights Watch Says
Human Rights Watch says three new laws in Bangladesh could make it harder to protect people from government abuse.
One law limits the National Human Rights Commission’s ability to investigate security forces directly.
Another law changes how enforced disappearances are investigated and removes some inspection powers.
It also makes it harder to hold commanders responsible for abuses.
A third law changes the name of the Rapid Action Battalion to the Special Response Battalion.
The new force keeps the old force’s people, powers, property and records.
Human Rights Watch says the law does not provide enough training, oversight or accountability.
The group wants Bangladesh’s international partners to push for stronger protections.
It also wants the United States to keep sanctions on the renamed force until accountability measures are established.
Human Rights Watch says three laws passed in September weaken Bangladesh’s human rights protections.
A new National Human Rights Commission law limits direct investigations and increases government control over appointments and administration.
The Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Act removes some detention-monitoring powers and raises the standard for command responsibility.
The Rapid Action Battalion was renamed the Special Response Battalion, which inherited its personnel, powers, property and records.
Human Rights Watch urged stronger oversight of the new force and called for continued United States sanctions until accountability measures exist.
- Who
- Human Rights Watch criticized laws passed by Bangladesh’s parliament; the government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman enacted them.
- What
- Three laws changed the National Human Rights Commission, enforced-disappearance safeguards and the Rapid Action Battalion, which was renamed the Special Response Battalion.
- When
- The laws were passed on September 6 and September 10; the renamed force began operating on September 16.
- Where
- Bangladesh.
- Why
- Human Rights Watch says the changes weaken safeguards, reduce independent oversight and could make accountability for abuses more difficult.
- Laws criticized
- Three laws passed by Bangladesh’s parliament in September.
- Human rights commission law
- Passed September 6; it limits direct investigations of security-force abuses and restores greater government control over appointments.
- Enforced-disappearance law
- Passed September 6; it replaces safeguards introduced by the interim government.
- Force renamed
- The Rapid Action Battalion became the Special Response Battalion under a law passed September 10.
- Operational date
- The Special Response Battalion began operating on September 16.
- Previous allegations
- The Rapid Action Battalion faced allegations of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and torture.
- HRW recommendation
- Human Rights Watch called for stronger oversight, personnel vetting, detention safeguards and continued United States sanctions until accountability measures are in place.