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Rights Commission remained silent. During the interim government period, however, an ordinance was issued to strengthen the commission, it added.

The statement also alleged that the ACC had been used during Hasina’s regime to suppress opponents and target individuals and institutions with dissenting views.

Citing remarks by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Odhikar said $234 billion had been laundered abroad during Hasina’s rule and argued that these ordinances needed to be turned into law.

It said cancelling these important ordinances would amount to an attempt to take institutions back to the model of subservient bodies that existed under the previous government.

Referring to the recommendation for revoking the ordinance on enforced disappearances, Odhikar said many leaders and activists of the BNP alliance had themselves been victims of disappearance during the Hasina regime.

It noted that three victims who returned, as well as the wife of a disappeared person, were later elected lawmakers. However, the families of those who never returned continue to live in deep uncertainty.

Odhikar said the recommendation was a grave injustice to victims, their family members, and the people of the country. It urged the prime minister to stop the repeal process and immediately ensure passage of the ordinances in parliament, saying that no country can move forward without human rights and good governance.