Commission Urges NHRC Authority to Probe Law Enforcer Misconduct

The Police Reform Commission has proposed granting the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) the authority to directly investigate allegations of human rights violations by law enforcement agencies. The recommendation suggests that if any law enforcement agency is implicated in human rights abuses, the head of the agency should be empowered to initiate investigations.

To support this, the Commission proposes the creation of a dedicated Human Rights Cell within law enforcement agency headquarters. The report was submitted by the Commission, led by former Home Secretary Safar Raj, to the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, and is also available on the Commission's website.

The report emphasizes the importance of a modern, efficient, and public-friendly police force, noting that public trust in the police has been severely damaged following the tragic events during the July-August 2024 mass uprising, which resulted in casualties among students, civilians, and police officers.

Key recommendations in the report include ensuring the implementation of the Supreme Court’s directives on arrests, searches, and interrogations, ending the practice of filing cases against unidentified suspects, and urging the media to refrain from labeling individuals as criminals until proven guilty.

The report also calls for a review of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and its past human rights violations, recommending a reassessment of the unit’s role to improve accountability and make the police more citizen-friendly. Additionally, the Commission urges that officers responsible for the deaths and injuries during the 2024 uprising be held accountable through legal processes.