Committee formed to recruit Human Rights Commission chairperson, commissioner

The Ministry of Law has formed a selection committee to recommend appointments for the posts of chairperson and members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

An office order constituting the committee was issued on Monday by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the ministry.

The committee has been formed in line with the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025. The six-member body is headed by Justice Farah Mahbub of the Appellate Division.

The other members of the committee are the cabinet secretary; Dhaka University law professor Dr Shahnaz Huda; Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Abdul Hasib Chowdhury; the president of the National Press Club or a journalist with experience in human rights nominated by him; and former additional chief engineer of the Public Works Department, Kuboleswar Tripura.

The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division has been instructed to provide the committee with the necessary secretarial support to carry out its functions.

After the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5 amid a mass movement and the assumption of office by the interim government, there were widespread resignations and reshuffles across various government offices. Three months after the formation of the new government, on Nov 7, 2024, the members of the Human Rights Commission appointed during the Awami League regime resigned collectively.