The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has said there has been no formal decision yet regarding the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Bangladesh.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the ministry said certain media outlets have selectively quoted remarks made by the Adviser to the Ministry, creating confusion over the potential establishment of such a commission.
“To dispel misunderstandings, it is being clarified that no governmental decision has been taken thus far to form a Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” the statement says.
The ministry says in his most recent remarks, the Law Adviser emphasised that any consideration of such a commission would involve discussions with political parties, student leaders and experts at an appropriate time.
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“He has consistently stated that such a commission might be contemplated only after justice is served for the mass killings during the July uprising and contingent upon expressions of remorse from leaders of the ousted regime. He argued that the formation of such a commission could also help affirm that those responsible for genocide are rejected and isolated from the nation,” the release elaborated.
Earlier, on May 10, Dr Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, had said, “A Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be formed in the country. In this regard, a delegation, including the Chief Justice and the Law Adviser, will visit South Africa for an exchange of experience. Upon return, consultations will be held with eminent citizens regarding the commission’s formation.”
He made the remarks while presiding over a discussion session at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka, focused on the draft of the Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Ordinance, 2025 (Second Draft).
The session was organised by the Law Ministry and later highlighted in an official press release.
During the session, the Law Adviser said, “This nation cannot attain peace through endless conflict. National unity must be achieved. Those who committed heinous crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity are relatively few in number. There must be adequate and appropriate punishment for them. To establish that these perpetrators are detached from the nation’s mainstream, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission may be necessary.”
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Dr Nazrul reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring justice, “Those responsible for genocide and crimes against humanity will be prosecuted and face the highest level of punishment through legal procedures. Simultaneously, laws will continue to be enacted to ensure justice for enforced disappearances and other crimes, so that such offences are not repeated in future.”