Today, Thursday (18 December 2025), the weekly meeting of the Advisory Council was held under the chairmanship of Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus. Three important issues were decided in the meeting.
- The Advisory Council has given in-principle and final approval to the draft of the Prevention and Remedy of Disappearances (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. As a result, if a disappeared person has been missing for at least 5 years and has not returned alive, the tribunal will be able to officially declare him or her ‘disappeared’ or ‘missing’. The government will be able to appoint the required number of public prosecutors for the ‘Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Tribunal’ in the light of the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission. The victim or complainant can also appoint a tribunal lawyer on his own initiative, and the wife of the disappeared person or any member of his dependent family can use the property of the disappeared person without the prior permission of the commission.
- The Advisory Council has given the draft of the Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Conservation Ordinance 2025 in principle and finally approved. The ecosystem of the haor region of Bangladesh is rare and unique in the world. But due to the unplanned construction of dams blocking rivers and river channels, uncontrolled use of poisons and pesticides, and the adverse effects of tourism, this ecosystem is on the verge of destruction. On the other hand, there is also inadequacy of the legal framework for protecting water bodies.
Through this ordinance, the specific responsibilities, authority and jurisdiction of the Haor and Wetland Development Department in Bangladesh will be clearly defined. Provision has been made to issue protection ordinances to preserve the biodiversity, environment, habitat and ecosystem of the haor and wetland areas. In addition, provisions have been included to declare protected haor and wetland areas to ensure the protection of haor and wetland areas.
In addition, provisions have been made to provide details of prohibited activities in haor and wetland areas, to consider prohibited activities as crimes if committed, and to impose penalties for such crimes.
In the implementation of development projects in haor and wetland areas, the obligation to take the opinion of the Department has been imposed, subject to specified exceptions. In addition, the power has been given to formulate rules, regulations and guidelines to ensure coordination with other authorities/departments/organizations, involvement of local stakeholders and their inclusion in conservation activities, where necessary.
- In the meeting, the Advisory Council approved the proposal to establish a new embassy of Bangladesh in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Bangladesh has had a permanent mission in Geneva, Switzerland since independence. Despite the fact that most countries in the world have embassies in Bern, Bangladesh does not have an embassy, so the work of the UN and the embassy was being carried out at the Permanent Mission in Geneva for a long time. Switzerland is an important development partner and strategic partner of Bangladesh. Considering these, it has been decided to establish a Bangladesh embassy in Bern. Initially, the embassy will start its activities by appointing an ambassador, first secretary, and some officials and employees. So far, Bangladesh has 82 mission offices in different countries of the world.
Today, the health of Sharif Osman Hadi, a fearless fighter at the forefront of the July popular uprising and the spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha, was discussed in the meeting of the Advisory Council. Hadi’s condition is very critical. Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan is regularly in touch with the Chief Advisor and is inquiring about him. A senior official of the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry arrived in Singapore yesterday. He is directly taking care of Hadi’s treatment.
In addition, the Advisory Council specially thanked the Ministry of Freedom Fighters’ Affairs for celebrating the great Victory Day beautifully and smoothly this year.
