Debapriya urges for a human rights commission that is effective, not ‘toothless’

He says the body must be led by “honest and courageous people” able to confront power

Debapriya Bhattacharya, convenor of the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh has said he does not want a ‘toothless’ human rights commission.

Speaking at a dialogue in Dhaka’s Gulshan on Saturday, he remarked that past commissions had often been set up without teeth or claws, “lacking” competence and effectiveness, merely to appease civil society.

The event was organised by the platform, where discussions centred on the draft National Human Rights Commission Ordinance 2025.

In his keynote, Debapriya said appointments should go to people who are “honest, principled, and willing to challenge those in power”.

He added that putting a “spineless good man” at the helm would only weaken the body further, as such a person could never give others strength.

“We do not need spineless good people. What we need are honest, principled individuals who can fight power with courage,” he said, drawing from recent years of experience.