Transplant Transformation: Bangladesh Issues Trailblazing 2025 Organ Ordinance

The government has issued the “Human Organ Transplantation Ordinance, 2025,” repealing the Human Organ Transplantation Act, 1999. The gazette, issued on Wednesday, 19 November, states that the objective of the new ordinance is “to ensure the lawful collection, preservation, and use of organs intended for transplantation into the human body.”

It further states that the provisions of the previous law were inadequate for organ transplantation and grafting. To simplify human organ transplantation, prevent commercial use, and curb illegal trafficking, it was deemed appropriate to repeal the previous law and enact a more contemporary ordinance. Accordingly, the President promulgated and issued this ordinance under the authority granted by Article 93(1) of the Constitution.

Earlier, on 17 July, the draft of the “Human Organ Transplantation Ordinance, 2025” received final approval at the 34th meeting of the Advisory Council held at the Chief Advisor’s Office. Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus presided over the meeting.

At a briefing held the same day at the Foreign Service Academy, the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said,
“Many people suffer from kidney failure, many cannot see, corneal transplantation can restore sight—yet Bangladesh’s existing law had not been updated for a very long time.”

He added that the new ordinance will make organ transplantation much easier. Previously, organs could be taken only from very close relatives such as siblings or parents, but now this scope has been expanded.

In response to a question about who has been newly included as eligible organ donors, Shafiqul Alam said that nephews and nieces, who previously could not donate organs, are now included — widening the donor pool.

Regarding the ordinance, the Press Secretary further said,
“As a result of this law, we believe many Bangladeshis will no longer need to travel abroad for kidney transplants. Hospitals in Bangladesh will be able to provide these services. We consider this a landmark law for the country.”

DBTech/DP/IK/OR