No ordinance to be scrapped ‘for now’
The government is not definitively scrapping any of the 133 ordinances issued during the interim government’s tenure for the time being, opting instead for a systematic legislative review, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the parliamentary special committee at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Monday, the minister also said that the Referendum Ordinance has already lost its legal effectiveness.
“The Referendum Ordinance has either lapsed or become infructuous. It no longer holds any practical application. A referendum was conducted under its provision, and its purpose has been served. We are viewing it from that perspective,” he said.
He added that the government is proceeding through a systematic legal process instead of opting for direct cancellation, in order to determine the future of these laws.
“After detailed discussions by our special committee on the 133 laws, we have decided that no law will be definitively cancelled immediately. We will scrutinise them further, consult with stakeholders, and bring them before parliament as fresh bills,” he said.
The minister’s briefing also touched on the constitutional and parliamentary conventions governing law-making, amendment, and repeal.
When asked when these laws might be finalised, Asaduzzaman stated that the special committee is expected to submit its report by 2 April. He assured that the entire process would be completed within 30 days and outlined the stages of the legal framework.
The law minister explained, “After receiving the committee’s report, the respective ministries will send these laws to the Ministry of Law for vetting in the form of bills. Once the Law Ministry completes the vetting, we will place them in parliament. Then, parliament will decide.”
Regarding the legal fate of bills that parliament ultimately does not approve, the minister said, “The ones we do not pass will lapse.”
However, he did not specify the exact number of laws or bills being sent for scrutiny or how many might ultimately be cancelled. He advised waiting until the full report is published.
Among the existing controversial laws, there is widespread public discussion regarding the Cyber Security Act and the formation of a Police Commission as part of new reforms.
In response to journalists’ questions on these matters, the law minister refrained from making immediate or direct comments.
However, he confirmed that these legal and structural issues are under scrutiny and that the committee’s final report will include detailed information and directives on them.
