Govt approves ordinance allowing official ‘disappeared’ status after 5 years

The government today approved the draft "Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress (Amendment) Ordinance 2025," introducing a key provision that allows a tribunal to officially declare a person as "disappeared" if they remain missing for at least five years without returning.

The approval came at the weekly meeting of the Council of Advisers, held at the Chief Adviser's Office in Dhaka and chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, according to a statement from the CA's Press Wing.

Under the proposed ordinance, the government will be empowered to appoint the required number of public prosecutors for the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Tribunal, based on recommendations from the National Human Rights Commission.

The amendment also strengthens legal access for victims. Victims or complainants will be allowed to appoint lawyers of their own choice to represent them before the tribunal.

In another significant provision aimed at easing hardships for families, the ordinance allows the spouse or dependent family members of a disappeared person to use the individual's property without prior approval from the commission.

The council also approved the draft of the "Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Conservation Ordinance 2025", specifying the responsibilities, authority, and jurisdiction of the Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development Department.

The ordinance also includes provisions for issuing protection orders to conserve biodiversity, environment, ecology, and ecosystems of haor and wetland areas.

The Council of Advisers approved a proposal to establish a new Bangladesh embassy in Bern, the capital of Switzerland.

Since its independence, Bangladesh has had a permanent mission in Geneva. Despite most countries having embassies in Bern, Bangladesh did not, and as a result, both United Nations-related work and embassy functions had long been handled by the permanent mission in Geneva.