Why victims must lead Bangladesh's truth commission

By Law Advisor Dr Asif Nazrul to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Bangladesh marks a significant step in Bangladesh's journey towards justice and healing for victims of July massacre and the preceding authoritarian regime. The proposed commission, a long-overdue initiative, appears to be a promising attempt at confronting the dark legacy of political repression, state violence and enforced disappearances in Bangladesh.

- BY B TAJRIYAAN AKRAM HUSSAIN, MUHAMMAD ASADULLAH, NOUSHEEN SHARMILA RITU, MD. HARUN OR RASHID

However, for the commission to be successful, it must be grounded in an inclusive, holistic and sustainable framework. Three urgent recommendations are offered here that can shape the formation of the proposed commission into a successful tool for healing. First, the framework of the commission including its role and responsibilities must go through broad consultations to ensure inputs from experts, victims, and marginalised sections of the society. Second, it must be inclusive, especially of victims including those who are not from Dhaka, and start with a national dialogue with all stakeholders beyond Dhaka or divisional centres. Third, it must also include experts in post-conflict justice who specialise in the field. Also, the commission's mandate and modus operandi must be clearly set before deciding the composition of the body.

This transitional justice effort also needs a contextualised framework rooted within the unique sociopolitical realities and psychosocial complexities of Bangladesh and its people. Instead of importing Western case study models, Bangladesh needs to develop its own transitional justice model based on its local political, sociocultural and spiritual norms and values. For instance, truth-telling as developed in South Africa were based on Christian values of catharsis and forgiveness that might be incompatible with the psychosocial conditions of a Muslim majoritarian country like Bangladesh.