Govt to overhaul colonial era laws

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Thursday told Parliament that the government is preparing to review and modernise a number of outdated laws inherited from the British colonial and Pakistan periods to align them with the realities of present-day Bangladesh.

Replying to a starred question from BNP lawmaker Md Fazle Huda, he said Bangladesh had taken legal steps immediately after independence by enacting The Bangladesh Laws (Revision and Declaration) Act, 1973 to create an organised and effective legal framework for the new state.

The minister said the 1973 law facilitated a broad review, amendment and repeal of all laws, presidential orders and legislative provisions that had remained in force in Bangladesh since March 26, 1971.

As part of that process, he said, provisions deemed irrelevant or unsuitable for the country’s socio-political context were repealed, while some were declared outside the national legal structure.

Md Asaduzzaman noted that successive governments have continued to amend laws whenever necessary and have also introduced new legislation to address changing national demands and emerging challenges.

Despite that, he admitted that many statutes dating back to the British and Pakistan eras have gradually lost relevance or effectiveness over time.

He said the government is now set to identify such obsolete laws and, after consulting relevant stakeholders, undertake phased initiatives either to amend them or replace them with new legislation.

The Law Minister added that the Law Commission is already working on the issue and the government will proceed with necessary actions once its recommendations are received.