CHAPTER : 01 NHRCB: Background and Functions Our beloved country People’s Republic of Bangladesh was established as a result of struggle for human rights. It was possible due to our Father of the nation the Greatest Bengali of all time Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Proclamation of our Liberation War clearly mentions about ensuring equity, human dignity and social justice. Collectively they are called human rights. 30 articles of UDHR are fully reflected in the constitution that was gifted by Bangabandhu within 10 months of our independence. Besides, The proclamation of our constitution writes “it shall be a fundamental aim of the State to realise through the democratic process a socialist society, free from exploitation a society in which the rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom, equality and justice, political, economic and social, will be secured for all citizens.” Though the concept and ideals of human rights were well incorporated into the Constitution of Bangladesh in 1972 it took quite a long time to come up with the first initiative to form a national Commission for promoting and protecting human rights in the country. It was by the present government that they first felt the necessity of creating an aura of human rights and establishing rule of law in the country, removing the culture of impunity, upheld by the previous rulers after their epoch-making political rise in 1996. Achieving a hard-earned and glorious victory in the national election the new government was burdened with numerous initiatives regarding restoration of democracy, bringing war-criminals under trial, reforming systems and machineries and reconstructing many projects and programs for leading the country towards development. Moreover, the government became mindful to create a paradigm towards establishing a broad-based human rights culture in the society. And with the help of UNDP a draft-legislation was made in 1998 with a view to forming a Commission. But the legacy of procrastination of the previous regime was still prevailing; and, therefore, the issue remained pending and under consideration for a long time. At last a Commission came into being on 1st September 2008 with the promulgation of National Human Rights Commission Ordinance 2007. A three-member Commission started working on 1st December, 2008. But as a matter of fact the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh assumed a full-fledged shape and came into people’s sight after the enactment of the National Human rights Commission Act-2009. The legislation enabled NHRCB to start functioning with full capacity in June 2010. The second Commission under the spell of the NHRC Act 2009 worked for two terms until June 2016. The fourth Commission worked till June 2019. The present one is literally the fifth Commission that commences its journey on 23 September 2019. It is composed of a Chairman, a Full-time Member and five other honorary Members. Keeping Constant Watch on HR Violation Dealing with Complaint on HR Violation Research & Publication on HR Issues Issuing Guidelines & Recommendations on HR Issues 12 Providing Counseling & Legal Aid to Victims & Vulnerable Groups Awareness Building & Advocacy on HR Legal Reform on HR issues International Coordination Participation and Reporting