Published : 08 Apr 2026, 05:40 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 03:34 PM
In a landmark move, parliament has passed an amendment to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Act formally defining enforced disappearances as crimes against humanity.
The change was incorporated into the ICT Act through the International Crimes Tribunals (Amendment) Bill-2026, presented in parliament on Tuesday.
Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman highlighted the inclusion of enforced disappearance within the definition of crimes against humanity during the session.
The bill, reflecting revisions introduced earlier through an ordinance during the interim government’s tenure, was placed for immediate consideration and passed by voice vote.
In Tuesday’s sittings -- held in morning and afternoon sessions -- parliament passed a total of 14 bills, while two more were introduced.
The move forms part of a broader effort to convert ordinances issued under the interim administration into formal legislation.
The special parliamentary committee recommended the approval of 98 out of 133 ordinances in their original form and 15 in an amended format.
Of the remaining 20, it suggested repealing four and strengthening the other 16 before introducing them later as new bills.
While moving the proposal for the passage of the bill, the law minister said: "This is a bill through which we have defined enforced disappearance as a crime against humanity, ensuring that the trial of such disappearances within the International Crimes Tribunal is steered onto the correct path."
Alongside the bill, Asaduzzaman also tabled and secured the passage of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, the Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill, and the Registration (Amendment) Bill on the same day.
The amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure includes a provision requiring that the family, friends, or lawyer of an arrested individual must be informed within a maximum of 12 hours of them being taken to police custody.
