The opposition staged a walkout from parliament, accusing the government of pursuing partial reform instead of the comprehensive reform it says was promised. As part of the walkout, opposition lawmakers left the chamber Thursday during the tabling of the National Human Rights Commission Bill and the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Bill.
After private members’ resolutions were disposed of and before legislative business began, Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman took the floor on a point of order to speak about the July Charter, the Constitution Reform Council, and the special committee formed on constitutional amendments. He sharply criticized the government for not having formed the Constitution Reform Council. He then said he would not take part in the tabling of the National Human Rights Commission Bill and the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Bill, both scheduled for that day, and staged a walkout. The opposition walked out of parliament at 8:06 p.m.
It should be noted that 133 ordinances were issued during the interim government’s tenure. Under the rules, these were presented to parliament at the first sitting of the 13th parliament’s first session on March 12. The deadline for their approval or rejection was April 10. Sixteen ordinances were not brought forward as bills within the set time, and as a result lost their effect. Seven other ordinances were repealed through a repeal bill. Among the 16 ordinances not brought forward as bills within the deadline — including those on enforced disappearance prevention, the police commission, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (amendment) — the government had said it would review them further before introducing new bills. One of these was the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Ordinance.
Separately, three ordinances related to the National Human Rights Commission were repealed and a bill reinstating the 2009 National Human Rights Commission Act was passed in this parliament’s first session. At the time, the government said it would strengthen the human rights commission law after further review. The cabinet approved the draft Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy Act on August 3. The draft National Human Rights Commission Act was approved on August 10. Since these two draft laws were approved, various parties — including human rights workers and political parties — have expressed concern, with criticism directed at some provisions of the drafts.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report