Former Enforced Disappearance Commission Chief Appointed Chairperson of Human Rights Commission
After remaining inactive for nearly a year and a half, the interim government has appointed a chairperson and four commissioners to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Former High Court Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury has been appointed as the chairperson. He previously served as the head of the interim government–formed Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances.
The appointments were made by the President based on the recommendations of the selection committee, according to a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Law on Thursday.
Among the four commissioners, two are former members of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances: Md. Noor Khan and Nabila Idris. The other two commissioners are Professor Md. Shariful Islam of the Department of Political Science at the University of Dhaka and Elira Dewan, a human rights activist.
Following the fall of the Awami League government amid a mass uprising in August 2024, the then chairperson and members of the National Human Rights Commission resigned in November of that year. The commission was not reconstituted afterward, leaving the state’s key human rights institution effectively non-functional for an extended period.
Despite sustained criticism over the prolonged inactivity of the commission, no appointments were made for months. The interim government has now appointed the chairperson and four commissioners at the very final stage of its tenure.
Former High Court Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury was appointed as chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission on the recommendation of the selection committee. The appointment was announced through a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Law on Thursday (February 5).
In addition to Justice Chowdhury, former members of the enforced disappearance inquiry commission Md. Noor Khan and Nabila Idris, University of Dhaka political science professor Md. Shariful Islam, and human rights activist Elira Dewan have been appointed as members of the National Human Rights Commission.
