Bangladesh's NHRC Fights for Independence Amidst Growing Rights Concerns
Bangladesh's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) faces challenges in its mandate and alignment with international standards. Despite progress in social and economic rights, human rights issues persist, including digital rights, labour migration, and climate justice. Key international actors like Swisscontact support dialogue and institution-building, while civil society faces restrictions.
The NHRC struggles with a limited mandate and reliance on the executive, falling short of the Paris Principles. Reform is urgent to ensure its credibility and impartiality. Meanwhile, digital rights and labour migration have emerged as pressing human rights concerns. Bangladesh, as one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, also grapples with climate justice issues.
Bangladesh has seen incremental gains in labour rights, with trade unions in the garment sector and engagement with international human rights mechanisms. However, media freedom is under pressure, with journalists facing intimidation and threats, particularly when reporting on governance or corruption. The Constitution guarantees fundamental rights, but civil and political rights remain contested, with constraints on freedoms of expression, assembly, and press, and narrowing political space for opposition parties.
Civil society organisations face restrictive regulations on foreign funding and registration, hampering their advocacy and social change efforts. Despite these challenges, Bangladesh has made remarkable strides in social and economic rights, reducing extreme poverty and improving life expectancy and gender parity in education.
Addressing the NHRC's limitations and ensuring its independence is crucial for Bangladesh's human rights landscape. Tackling emerging issues like digital rights, labour migration, and climate justice, while protecting media freedom and civil society space, will require concerted efforts from both domestic actors and international partners like Swisscontact.
