Transparency International Bangladesh has expressed strong dissatisfaction over recommendations to repeal two ordinances related to the appointment of Supreme Court judges and the establishment of a separate Supreme Court secretariat, as well as the move to suspend the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance in the name of further scrutiny.
In a statement issued on Friday, the anti corruption watchdog urged the government to place these ordinances before Parliament in the form of bills. It also called for immediate review and legislative enactment of other ordinances recommended for suspension, including those relating to the Anti Corruption Commission, Police Commission and Right to Information, through consultation with relevant stakeholders.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman questioned the rationale behind the move, stating that among the 133 ordinances issued during the interim government, the Supreme Court Judges Appointment Ordinance, Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance and Human Rights Commission Ordinance represented
"significant progress in strengthening the democratic and institutional foundations of the country."
He said, "What message does the government actually want to send by repealing and suspending these three ordinances"
Referring to the ruling party's electoral commitments, he added, "Is this an example of the promise made in the election manifesto regarding ensuring the effective independence of the judiciary, including strengthening a separate secretariat under the Supreme Court, or were such commitments merely words intended to influence public opinion"
He further remarked, "The government appears to have forgotten how corrupt and how much of a tool for suppressing dissent the judiciary had become during the previous authoritarian regime, which is very disappointing."
On the suspension of the Human Rights Commission Ordinance, Dr Iftekharuzzaman warned that it had created "worrying uncertainty" regarding the formation of an effective and independent commission. He said, "The leaders of the ruling party and other officials should not forget how miserable people's lives can become in the absence of effective independence of the Human Rights Commission and the judiciary, and without provisions to prevent enforced disappearances."
Describing the move as politically counterproductive, he added, "This position is suicidal for all political parties represented in Parliament, as most of them have themselves been victims of multidimensional deprivation of rights due to legal weaknesses and the politicisation of state institutions."
He urged lawmakers to act decisively, stating, "If they have learned any lessons from authoritarian rule and the events of July, they should prove it by taking immediate initiative to approve these ordinances in the form of bills in Parliament."
Raising concerns over scrutiny of laws relating to enforced disappearances, he questioned, "How can a government, whose leaders were themselves victims of enforced disappearances, justify subjecting these ordinances to further scrutiny" He added, "If there are inherent weaknesses, they can be corrected. But any attempt to provide immunity to perpetrators or weaken the law under the pretext of national security would be tantamount to reversing progress on human rights."
On the Anti Corruption Commission Ordinance, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "In line with the recommendations of the ACC Reform Commission included in the July Charter and supported by political parties including BNP, the ordinance should be amended and placed before Parliament immediately."
He criticised the omission of a key provision, noting, "The proposal for an independent selection and review committee, which is strategically important for ensuring full independence of the ACC, was deliberately excluded."
He also called for the cancellation of the Police Commission Ordinance, stating, "The ordinance fails to reflect the need for an independent and impartial police commission to develop a people friendly and professional force, contrary to the commitments of the July Charter."
At the same time, he urged the formation of an effective and independent Information Commission and recommended that the Right to Information Amendment Ordinance 2026 be presented in Parliament as a bill after necessary revisions, including changes to the definition of information, expansion of jurisdiction and provisions relating to appointment, rank and tenure of commissioners.
Reiterating TIB's position, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "All ordinances recommended for suspension should be reviewed with the participation of relevant experts and stakeholders and enacted into law without delay."
