Retired Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CIED) today spoke at a inaugural session of a daylong workshop a Hotel in the capital’s Gulshan. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Oct 18, 2025 (BSS) – Retired Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CIED) today said that judges are not only responsible for carrying out judicial functions but also serve as defenders and advocates of human rights.

“Incidents of enforced disappearance are not only a matter of judicial process but also a question of human rights, morality, and accountability. Every judicial decision in favor of justice represents a stand for humanity,” he said. 

Chowdhury made the remarks while presenting the keynote paper at the inaugural session of a daylong workshop titled “Ensuring Justice: The Role of the Judiciary in Addressing Enforced Disappearances” at Hotel Amari in the capital’s Gulshan area.

The event was organized by the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances in collaboration with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Dhaka.

Chairman of the Commission also said that the Commission is working to strengthen coordinated cooperation among the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and human rights institutions to prevent disappearances.

“It is now imperative to enhance the capacity of the judiciary and investigation agencies through the application of international human rights law, analysis of evidence, and the effective use of technology,” he said, adding that the Commission has initiated a series of workshops for judges to this end.

Law and Justice Division Secretary Liakat Ali Mollah, addressing the judges, said that a judge is not merely an interpreter of law but also the conscience of society. “Justice without humanity is just a process, but justice with compassion is true healing,” he said.
Commission Member Justice Md Farid Ahmed Shibli emphasized the need for institutional reforms to ensure effective investigation and trial of disappearance-related cases. 

He said the Commission is reviewing existing legal frameworks and preparing recommendations to amend relevant laws to ensure speedy trial, witness protection, and legal aid for victims’ families.

Another member of the Commission, Md Nur Khan Liton, highlighted the accountability of judges in preventing disappearances and urged them to play a courageous role in this regard.

During the working session, moderated by Commission Member Md Sajjad Hossain, participating judges discussed various aspects of handling disappearance cases, including evidence collection, witness examination, application of human rights standards, and ensuring accountability in judicial proceedings.

The discussions produced key recommendations, including the formation of a permanent commission to prevent enforced disappearances, establishment of a specialized investigative unit under the judiciary, creation of a permanent monitoring cell to address case complexities, raising public awareness, and improving information-sharing mechanisms between the Commission and the judiciary.

A total of 90 participants—including judges from various courts and tribunals as well as officials from the Commission—attended the workshop. Three more workshops will be held under this initiative.