Bangladesh’s Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has issued the 'Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearance Ordinance', prescribing the death penalty as the maximum punishment for enforced disappearance. The ordinance, published in the official gazette on December 2, establishes special tribunals at district and divisional levels to handle such cases. It classifies enforced disappearance as a non-bailable and non-compoundable offense. Senior law enforcement officials who authorize or permit such acts will face the same penalties as direct perpetrators. If a disappeared person dies or remains missing for five years, the responsible individuals may face death or life imprisonment. The ordinance also criminalizes concealing evidence or maintaining secret detention centers, punishable by up to seven years in prison and fines up to 2 million taka. National security or other excuses will not be accepted as defense. The ordinance received final approval from the Advisory Council on November 6 under the Chief Adviser’s leadership.