Home Minister: Victims of Enforced Disappearance to Receive Compensation

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Saturday that the government had introduced a strict and modern law aimed at ensuring justice and compensation for all victims of enforced disappearance.

He said that previously, cases of enforced disappearance were largely limited to investigations, but the new legislation gives victims a direct legal route to seek justice through the courts.

The law allows for the death penalty as the maximum punishment, depending on the severity and circumstances of the offence.

Salahuddin made the remarks at a photography exhibition and discussion organised by Mayer Dak at the National Museum on Saturday evening to observe the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.

Explaining the provisions of the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Act 2026, the home minister said the law clearly defines enforced disappearance as an offence and sets out appropriate punishments. It also allows families of missing persons to use and manage their property to support themselves during the person’s absence.

According to Salahuddin, compensation can be recovered from those responsible for enforced disappearances. If compensation cannot be obtained from the perpetrators, the state will provide compensation to the victims.

He added that provisions under the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Act allowing prosecution of systematic and widespread enforced disappearances would continue to remain effective.

At the same time, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has been strengthened to facilitate the trial and implementation of punishments for enforced disappearance cases in regular courts, he said.

Salahuddin acknowledged that laws could be amended when necessary and urged stakeholders to offer constructive recommendations.

Speaking about the law-and-order situation inherited from the previous government, he said the authorities had received a fragile law enforcement force and had spent the past six months working to rebuild morale and motivation. He added that a reward-and-punishment system was now being introduced.

The home minister said the government was working to build a modern law enforcement force capable of tackling technology-driven crimes while maintaining accountability and upholding human rights.