UN torture expert flags Bangladesh's missing human rights safeguards
Synopsis
The UN's top torture expert visited Bangladesh and found a country with strong laws but hollow institutions — no A-status human rights body, no independent custodial oversight, and judges she says must stop looking away. With civil society expectations rising daily, the clock is ticking on whether this 'moment of opportunity' becomes meaningful reform or another missed chance.
Key Takeaways
Alice Edwards , UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, flagged critical institutional gaps in Bangladesh on 28 April 2025 during a week-long study visit.
Bangladesh lacks an 'A-status' National Human Rights Commission under the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.
No national preventive mechanism against custodial torture currently exists in the country.
Edwards called for mandatory safeguards including lawyer access , medical checks, audio-video recordings, and prompt judicial production for all detainees.
She stressed that independent bodies — not the police — must investigate custodial torture, citing the state's dual role as perpetrator and investigator.
She described the current period as a 'moment of great opportunity' for democratic and institutional renewal, but warned that expectations from survivors and civil society are growing daily.
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Edwards on 28 April flagged critical gaps in Bangladesh's human rights framework, citing the absence of an 'A-status' National Human Rights Commission and a national preventive mechanism against custodial torture. Speaking in Dhaka, she described violence in the country as deeply embedded, systemic, and enduring, according to local media reports including The Daily Star.
Key Gaps Identified
Edwards, currently on a week-long study visit to Bangladesh, acknowledged that the country has built a strong 'legal scaffolding' — encompassing the Bangladesh Constitution's ban on torture, the ratification of the Convention Against Torture, and the 2013 law criminalising torture. However, she stressed that the supporting institutional structure remains largely absent.
The most critical missing piece, she said, is an 'A-status' accreditation under the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) — a benchmark that signals genuine independence and effectiveness of a national human rights body. Without this, Bangladesh's human rights commission lacks the standing to engage fully with UN mechanisms.
What Robust Custody Safeguards Must Include
Edwards outlined a clear set of minimum safeguards required to prevent custodial torture. She said that a detainee's custody must be formally recorded so that someone always knows their whereabouts. The detainee must have access to a lawyer, medical examinations, and audio-video recordings, and must be brought before a judge speedily.
Notably, she did not exempt the judiciary from responsibility, stressing that magistrates and judges have obligations not to ignore signs of torture or remand individuals to overcrowded prisons known for violence. She called for judges to be active participants in prevention, not passive observers.
Why Independent Investigation Bodies Are Essential
The Special Rapporteur underscored the need for independent bodies to probe custodial torture cases, arguing that investigations must be conducted at 'arm's length' from alleged perpetrators. She drew a sharp distinction between ordinary crimes — where the state protects the victim — and torture, where the state itself is the perpetrator.
'The police should not be investigating the police,' she said, adding that there is an intimate relationship between corruption — both political and financial — and the abuse of power, with torture representing the most extreme end of that spectrum.
A Moment of Opportunity, With High Expectations
Despite the structural shortcomings, Edwards described the present juncture in Bangladesh as a 'moment of great opportunity' for democratic renewal, institutional reform, and the building of a pervasive human rights culture — from the workplace and home to streets and institutions.
She cautioned, however, that expectations from civil society and survivors are growing daily, placing urgent pressure on the government and other actors to seize the moment and sustain momentum. The consultation meeting was organised by Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust, the Association for the Prevention of Torture, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, and Redress, and was held at the Hotel Holiday Inn in Dhaka.
Whether Bangladesh translates this window of political goodwill into durable institutional reform will depend on the pace and sincerity of action in the months ahead.
Point of View
A ratified convention, a 2013 criminalisation law. But Alice Edwards has identified the oldest problem in South Asian governance: laws without institutions are decorative. The absence of an A-status human rights commission is not a technicality; it is a signal to the UN system and to victims that accountability remains aspirational. More pointed is her call for judges to be part of the solution — a rare public rebuke of the judiciary's passive complicity in a region where custodial abuse is routinely laundered through remand orders. The 'moment of opportunity' framing is diplomatic, but the subtext is a warning: reform windows close, and Bangladesh has seen them close before.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the UN Special Rapporteur say about Bangladesh's human rights framework?
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Edwards said Bangladesh has strong laws against torture but lacks critical institutional safeguards, including an A-status National Human Rights Commission and a national preventive mechanism against custodial torture. She described violence in the country as deeply embedded, systemic, and enduring.
What is an 'A-status' National Human Rights Commission?
An A-status accreditation is granted by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) and signifies that a national human rights body is genuinely independent, adequately resourced, and fully compliant with the UN Paris Principles. Without it, a country's human rights commission has limited standing to engage with UN mechanisms.
What custodial safeguards did Alice Edwards recommend for Bangladesh?
Edwards recommended that detainees must be formally registered in custody, given access to a lawyer and medical examination, have their custody audio-video recorded, and be produced before a judge without delay. She also called for independent bodies — separate from the police — to investigate all allegations of custodial torture.
Why did Edwards say judges must be part of the conversation on torture?
Edwards stressed that magistrates and judges are not exempt from responsibility, as they have legal obligations not to ignore signs of torture and must not remand individuals to overcrowded prisons known for violence. She argued that judicial passivity can effectively enable custodial abuse.
What opportunity did the UN expert say Bangladesh currently has?
Edwards described the present period in Bangladesh as a 'moment of great opportunity' for democratic renewal, institutional reform, and the building of a nationwide human rights culture. She cautioned that civil society and survivor expectations are growing daily and urged the government to maintain momentum.
