NHRC members resign following repeal of ordinance in Parliament

All members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have resigned following the repeal of an ordinance issued during the interim government period.

According to sources, the Commission members stepped down after the ordinance under which they were appointed was annulled. Following their resignation, the outgoing members sent an open letter to the media explaining their position.

Earlier on Thursday (9 April), the Jatiya Sangsad passed the National Human Rights Commission (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill by voice vote. The bill states that it will come into effect immediately upon receiving presidential assent and publication in the official gazette.

With the passage of the bill, parliament rejected objections from the opposition and repealed the ordinance, reinstating the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2009, which was enacted during the tenure of the Awami League government.

Speaking about the resignations, outgoing Commission member Nur Khan said the government had not directly asked them to resign.

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“We were kept in a state of uncertainty. Since we were appointed under the previous ordinance, and that ordinance no longer exists, we felt it appropriate to step down,” he said.

Meanwhile, Commission Secretary Kudrat-e-Elahi stated that the repeal of the ordinance automatically nullified the existing commission. However, he added that he had not yet reviewed the open letter submitted by the outgoing members.