Kazi Reazul Hoque Chairman National Human Rights Commission Foreword from the Chairman The year 2016 has seen a transition in the governance of the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh; the present Commission takes over charge of the office on 02 August, 2016. The new Commission has taken a number of initiatives and implemented most of those that created a new momentum at the National Human Rights Commission. The first and foremost one is the streamlining of the activities of the Thematic Committees formed earlier to address the distinct challenges of the vulnerable communities of the country. These committees have focused on key practice areas of human rights with the objective of engaging in vital and contemporary issues of human rights in the country. The Commission Members being the chairs of these committees have put their time and efforts for holding a number of discussions and consultation meetings providing a platform for civil society organizations, activists, international agencies and government. Under these thematic committees, UN committee report such as CRC, ICCPR, and CEDAW report are prepared by engaging and ensuring participation of respective CSOs and NGOs working in the particular area. In regards to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations, NHRC had segregated the recommendations of second cycle report and had taken effective initiatives for its implementation. In addition, NHRC encouraged and engaged all CSOs and NGOs in preparing the third cycle UPR stakeholder report due in the year 2017.UPR stakeholder report due in the year 2017. NHRC, in consultation with the experts and different civil society organizations has drafted Anti Discrimination Act and the process has been carried on through constant advocacy with government for its enactment. The new Commission has put emphasis on partnership with CSOs, CBOs and NGOs. It has taken many initiatives to engage them in different interventions. One of the noteworthy initiatives is to conduct joint Fact Finding missions with respective CSOs and NGOs in human rights violation investigation. Secondly, under the thematic committees some priority concerns of the vulnerable groups have been identified and the Committees have engaged all relevant persons to work together as a pressure group. In 2016, NHRC has registered 692 complaints of which 665 complaints are lodged by the victims and 27 complaints are taken under suo moto. Over the year, the Commission has disposed of 503 cases. The Commission has put maximum emphasis on disposal of cases.