The government has given policy and final approval to the draft Prevention and Remedies for Enforced Disappearance Act, 2026, at the 15th Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat. The Home Ministry presented the draft, and the decision was announced in a press release on Monday evening. The law defines enforced disappearance as a distinct cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable criminal offence.

According to the release, the legislation aims to uphold human rights, human dignity, personal liberty and the rule of law. It establishes a legal framework for preventing disappearances, prosecuting those responsible, locating disappeared people, and ensuring victims’ and families’ rights to compensation and rehabilitation. It includes court-issued search warrants, trials in an accused person’s absence, admissibility of digital evidence, and confidentiality and security protections for witnesses, complainants, information providers and victims.

The draft requires investigations to be completed within a maximum of 120 days and trials within another maximum of 120 days. Disappearance offences carry up to life imprisonment and fines. If a disappearance results in death, a body is found, or a person cannot be recovered alive or dead after five years, penalties may include death or life imprisonment and fines up to Tk1 crore. It also provides for compensation funds, state compensation, a central database and international cooperation.