Cabinet approves enforced disappearance law with death penalty as the highest punishment
The 15th Cabinet meeting held on Monday presided over by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Photo: Prime Minister's Office.
The Cabinet has given in-principle and final approval to the draft of the "Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Act, 2026," which includes provisions for the maximum punishment of death penalty and life imprisonment for the crime of enforced disappearance. The decision was made at a meeting held on Monday at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
The draft law, formulated at the initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs, identifies enforced disappearance as a distinct, cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable criminal offense. For general cases of enforced disappearance, the law provides for a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine. However, if the disappearance results in death, if the body is recovered, or if the individual is not traced even after five years, the offender will face the death penalty or life imprisonment, along with a maximum fine of Tk 1 crore (10 million).
The law mandates the completion of investigation within a maximum of 120 days and the subsequent trial within another 120 days. Additionally, it allows for trials to continue even in the absence of the accused, the acceptance of digital evidence obtained through technology, and guarantees the confidentiality and security of witnesses and victims.
