Annual Report 2016 tion and demonstrate how solutions will work. 5. Upgrading NHRC from “B” Status to “A” Status In accordance with the Paris Principles (that have set the responsibilities, status and functions of NHRIs) and the ICC Statutes the latest ICC Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) Report of March 2015 recommends that the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh be accredited with B status. The full compliance with Paris Principles requires meeting the following challenges: a. The NHRC is required to be empowered with a broad mandate to investigate all alleged human rights violations, including those involving the military, police and security forces. b. The SCA observes that the Selection Committee that selects the Chairman and Members of NHRC is primarily comprised of government appointees and that the quorum requirement appears to allow nominations solely by those members. The SCA highlighted the importance of having a clear, transparent and participatory selection process that promotes the independence of, and public confidence in the senior leadership of the Commission; the NHRC has proposed amendments to section 6(1) of the Act mentioning increase in membership of the Selection Committee and to include: a Judge from the Appellate Division; a member of civil society to be nominated by the Speaker of the Parliament; the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission; and a Vice Chancellor of any public university nominated by the Vice Chancellor’s Forum. It also proposed an amendment to section 7(3) of the Act to increase the quorum requirement from four to six. The honorary members are attending the Commission on invitation. As such their full potential cannot be realized to make the Commission more effective. Here, it may be noted that similar Human Rights Commissions of other countries consist of all regular and full time members. c. The SCA has also raised their concern with regards to the appointment of senior staff to the Commission. Commission has 48 staff now and out 48 only three officers are from the government on deputation. The Commission is of the opinion that the positions that are now filled in through deputation should be filled up as soon as the permanent staffs of the commission those who are eligible to be promoted for those posts. 36