News Flash
DHAKA, March 8, 2026 (BSS) - Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman today said the government is working to ensure protection of human rights and has already brought illegal arrests and the practice of filing false cases largely under control, alongside taking effective initiatives to end the culture of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.
He made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled 'Rights, Justice and Implementation for All Women and Girls' as the chief guest, organised by Manusher Jonno Foundation marking International Women's Day 2026 at the Military Museum auditorium in Bijoy Sarani in the capital, according to an official release of PID.
The minister said the government is giving the highest priority to public welfare, human rights and women's rights.
As part of this effort, he said, the government launched the "Family Card" programme within just 21 days of assuming office as a significant national initiative.
Initially, 37,567 family cards were issued under a pilot project and the ownership of the cards was given in the names of women members of female-headed households.
He said the initiative was taken to show respect and responsibility towards women and to ensure their rights.
Referring to the last national election, the law minister said he addressed 117 public meetings where he encouraged women to become more active and empowered.
He said he personally supports the formation of a women's commission but noted that the establishment of multiple commissions in the country has sometimes created overlaps in responsibilities.
The minister said an ordinance regarding the National Human Rights Commission has been introduced where a commission on enforced disappearances has been included.
He reiterated that the government's policy is to bring incidents of enforced disappearance down to zero.
Regarding illegal arrests, he said the government has already taken steps to curb the practice and that the culture of filing false cases is gradually declining.
He expressed hope that with cooperation from all quarters, the tendency of filing false cases would decrease further.
The seminar, moderated by Executive Director of Manusher Jonno Foundation Shaheen Anam, was also addressed by Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Renggli, Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau Md. Daud Miah, UN Women Representative in Bangladesh Gitanjali Singh, UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan and Executive Director of human rights organisation BLAST Barrister Sara Hossain, among others.
