"2026 the 38th year of foundation"

২০২৬ প্রতিষ্ঠার ৩৮তম বছর

                  বাংলাদেশ মানবাধিকার সমন্বয় পরিষদ-বামাসপ           Coordinating Council for Human Rights in Bangladesh-CCHRB 

Evolution                                                .

The Foundation and Visionary Roots (1986)

THE CCHRB-Coordinating Council for Human Rights in Bangladesh Popularly known by its local acronym Bamasop (Bangladesh Manobadhika Samonnoy Parishad)—stands as one of the oldest, largest, and most influential multi-sectoral human rights alliances in Bangladesh.was founded in 1986 during a period of military autocracy in Bangladesh. The primary catalyst behind its creation was the legendary human rights activist, humanitarian, and Ramon Magsaysay Award winner, Father Richard William Timm, CSC (Fr. R.W. Timm).

The Core Need: Seeing fragmented efforts among individual NGOs, Fr. Timm envisioned a unified alliance capable of protecting human rights defenders and collectively speaking out against state and social injustices.

Early Leadership: Alongside other prominent civil society pioneers, such as the late Shafiqul Haque Chawdhury (founder of ASA), Fr. Timm established the council and served as its president for three consecutive terms (1987–1993).

Network Expansion and Multi-Sectoral Scaling

What began as a localized coalition of roughly 20 to 25 pioneering non-governmental organizations (including heavyweights like Caritas, ASA, and BRAC) quickly scaled. Over the decades, Bamasop systematically expanded its reach by incorporating:

Grassroots human rights groups

Legal aid bodies

Women's and children's rights advocates

Development-focused civil society organizations (CSOs)

Today, the alliance coordinates around 300 member organizations across all districts of Bangladesh, making it an expansive national network for human rights monitoring and advocacy.

Shift Towards Strategic Focus Areas

As Bangladesh transitioned from military rule to a parliamentary democracy in the 1990s, CCHRB/Bamasop evolved its operational strategies. The network moved beyond basic crisis response to establish structural programming around key pillars:

Human Rights Monitoring & Reporting: Operating as an early-warning and documenting body for rights violations, minority discrimination, and extrajudicial abuses.

Democracy & Election Observation: Bamasop became deeply involved in civic education, voter awareness auditing, and monitoring national and local elections to protect democratic transitions.

Capacity Building for Rights Defenders: Providing regular grassroots training, seminars, and workshops to equip local activists with knowledge of international standards, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

Empowering the Marginalized: Transitioning into an active advocate for indigenous populations, women, children, and religious minorities facing institutional discrimination.

Modern Prominence and Ongoing Legacy

Reaching its 38th year of foundation, CCHRB/Bamasop operates as a highly structured registered network. Managed by an elected Executive Committee, it bridges the gap between grassroots rural activists and international rights frameworks (like the UN OHCHR mechanisms)

By continuously adapting to the evolving sociopolitical landscape of Bangladesh, Bamasop maintains its foundational legacy: serving as a collective shield for human rights defenders and a powerful, unified voice for the dignity of all citizens