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SB Desk
The Cabinet has given both policy-level and final approval to the draft “Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearance Act, 2026.” The proposed law provides for life imprisonment and a fine for the offence of enforced disappearance. If the victim dies, the body is recovered, or the person cannot be found alive or dead even after five years, the punishment may be death or life imprisonment, along with a fine of up to Tk 100 million (10 crore).
The approval was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on Monday afternoon at the Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The information was announced in a press release issued by the Cabinet Division.
According to the press release, the proposed law aims to uphold human rights, human dignity, personal liberty, and the rule of law. It classifies enforced disappearance as a separate criminal offence that is cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. The legislation seeks to establish a comprehensive legal framework for preventing enforced disappearances, prosecuting those responsible, locating missing persons, and ensuring the rights, compensation, and rehabilitation of victims and their families.
Key Provisions of the Draft Law
Under the proposed legislation: Courts may issue search warrants to recover disappeared persons.
Trials may proceed in the absence of the accused. Digital evidence will be admissible in court.
Measures will be introduced to protect the privacy and security of witnesses, complainants, whistleblowers, and victims.
Victims and their families will have the right to know the progress of investigations, the facts surrounding the disappearance, and the whereabouts or fate of the disappeared person.
The government will provide legal aid, medical treatment, rehabilitation, and compensation.
A compensation fund will be established, and compensation may be recovered from the convicted person’s assets. If that is not possible, the state will provide compensation.
The draft also allows the spouse and dependent family members of a disappeared person to use the person’s property for maintenance and necessary expenses. After five years, a certificate of disappearance may be issued to facilitate the distribution of property among legal heirs.
Additionally, the law provides for: A central database on enforced disappearances. International cooperation on disappearance-related cases. Completion of investigations within 120 days. Completion of trials within 120 days.
The Cabinet approved the draft subject to legal vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. It also canceled the 2026 Essential Medicines List and Drug Pricing Policy
The Cabinet also approved the proposal to repeal the Essential Medicines List 2026 and the Drug Pricing Method 2026.
According to the Cabinet Division, the government remains committed to ensuring that the public has access to safe, effective, high-quality, and affordable medicines. However, under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 2023, the National Drug Advisory Council must be consulted before preparing the Essential Medicines List. This mandatory requirement was not followed when the 2026 list and pricing policy were prepared.
As a result, the legality of the January 2026 list and pricing method was challenged in the High Court, where the matter is currently pending.
The National Drug Advisory Council was formally constituted on 29 June, and the Cabinet approved the inclusion of the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) as a member.
Although the 2026 list and pricing policy have been repealed, the 1994 Essential Medicines List and the existing government pricing mechanism will remain in force until an updated list is prepared. The government also decided that future drug prices will be set in a way that avoids placing additional financial pressure on consumers while maintaining fair market competition.
Cabinet Approves Amendment to Property Transfer Law : The Cabinet also granted policy-level and final approval to the draft Transfer of Property (Amendment) Act, 2026.
According to the Cabinet Division, the existing law did not provide clear legal protection for parents or grandparents who wished to gift property to their children or grandchildren while retaining the right to use and enjoy the property during their lifetime.
The proposed amendment addresses this legal gap by providing a clear statutory framework and legal protection for such arrangements.