Ordinances placed by interim govt: Which are recommended for repeal, review, and amendment

A parliamentary committee has recommended repealing four ordinances, while suggesting further review of 16 others and amendments to 15 before placing them in Parliament.

The 13-member special parliamentary panel, which includes three from the opposition bench, was formed after 133 ordinances passed by the interim government were tabled during the first sitting of the 13th parliament. It was directed to submit its findings by 2 April.

4 ordinances recommended for repeal

The committee proposed repealing the following ordinances and introducing bills in their place:

1. Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat (Interim Special Provisions) Ordinance

2. Supreme Court Judges Appointment Ordinance, 2025

3. Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance, 2025

4. Supreme Court Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026

The Constitution stipulates there be a law governing judicial appointments, but such legislation had not been enacted until the interim government introduced the Supreme Court Judges Appointment Ordinance in 2025. It established a Supreme Judicial Appointment Council, led by the chief justice, to recommend qualified candidates for the Appellate and High Court divisions to the President.

Separately, the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance aimed to create an independent secretariat to oversee lower courts and administrative tribunals, ensuring judicial independence. The proposed body would handle appointments, promotions, transfers, discipline, and leave of judicial officers, under the overall authority of the chief justice.

Members of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami submitted dissent notes opposing the repeal of these two ordinances.

16 ordinances to be reviewed before reintroduction

The committee recommended that 16 ordinances should not be immediately placed in Parliament. Instead, they should be further examined, strengthened, and reintroduced later as bills.

These include:

• National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024

• Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025 (and its amendment)

• Referendum Ordinance

• Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress (and amendment, 2026)

• Anti-Corruption Commission (Amendment) Ordinance

• Microfinance Bank Ordinance

• Right to Information (Amendment) Ordinance

Among others, the Referendum Ordinance was introduced to enable a vote on implementing the July National Charter, while the Anti-Corruption Commission amendment expanded investigative powers, including filing cases directly and addressing financial crimes committed abroad.

The interim government's revenue reform ordinance proposed separating revenue policy and collection functions under two divisions of the Finance Ministry—triggering protests from officials.

Dissent notes were also submitted by Jamaat-e-Islami members on several of these ordinances.

Additional ordinances for later reintroduction

Several financial and regulatory ordinances—such as VAT and supplementary duty amendments, customs, income tax, civil aviation, and travel agency regulations—were also recommended for later reintroduction without dissent.

15 ordinances to be amended before passage

The committee recommended placing 15 ordinances in Parliament after amendments. These include:

• Women and Children Repression Prevention (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025

• Public Procurement (Amendment) Ordinance

• Bank Resolution Ordinance

• Anti-Terrorism Ordinance

• Code of Criminal Procedure (Second Amendment)

• National Data Management Ordinance

• Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Ordinance

• Human Organ Transplant Ordinance

• Police Commission Ordinance

• Tobacco Control (Amendment) Ordinance

• Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Prevention Ordinance, 2026

• Land Use Control and Agricultural Land Protection Ordinance

• Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance

• Private Educational Institutions Teachers and Employees Retirement Benefits (Amendment) Ordinance

• Private Educational Institutions Teachers and Employees Welfare Trust (Amendment) Ordinance.

However, the committee report did not specify what changes would be made.

Notably, the Anti-Terrorism Ordinance had been amended to allow banning political activities of specific entities, including provisions to prohibit rallies, publications, and other activities. The committee recommended passing it in amended form, without detailing the revisions.

The interim government had also issued a Police Commission Ordinance to establish an independent body responsible for recommending the appointment of the inspector general of police and addressing public complaints and internal grievances. This too is set to be presented in amended form.