The government has said it will bring fresh legislation on enforced disappearances, policing reforms and several other areas after a batch of ordinances expired without parliamentary approval, pledging wider consultation before reintroducing the measures.
At a press briefing on Sunday, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Law Minister Asaduzzaman said 16 ordinances--covering issues such as enforced disappearances, the proposed Police Commission and amendments to the Anti-Corruption Commission--had lapsed after they were neither approved nor rejected within the constitutional deadline.
New bills will be prepared following further scrutiny and stakeholder engagement, though no timeline has been announced.
The ordinances were part of a larger set of 133 issued during the tenure of the interim administration and placed before the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad on March 12. Lawmakers had until April 10 to act. While 110 ordinances were ultimately approved�"some with amendments�"seven were repealed outright, and the remaining 16 expired.
Officials said the government intends to revisit several of the lapsed measures, including those related to enforced disappearances, the Human Rights Commission, judicial administration and the appointment of Supreme Court judges, with an emphasis on drafting what they described as “balanced” and workable laws.
The issue has already triggered political friction. Opposition lawmakers staged a walkout in Parliament, accusing the government of backtracking on key reform commitments and failing to table critical ordinances in bill form. In response, Salahuddin Ahmed said the walkout was within parliamentary norms but argued that some of the criticism was based on “misunderstandings.”
He pointed to the debate over legislation linked to a July mass uprising memorial museum, where amendments introduced during deliberations led to prolonged exchanges between government and opposition benches. He said such changes are permissible under parliamentary procedure and can be adopted through a vote if deemed reasonable.
The government also defended its decision to let certain ordinances lapse, saying more time was needed to address legal ambiguities and structural concerns. Asaduzzaman noted that provisions in the enforced disappearance and Human Rights Commission frameworks require refinement, particularly around definitions, investigative authority and judicial processes.
Salahuddin Ahmed, who said he had personally experienced enforced disappearance, argued that passing the ordinance in its current form could risk injustice for victims. He added that the government is working toward a more effective institutional framework that aligns with related bodies, including accountability mechanisms and tribunals.
On judicial matters, ministers underscored the need to maintain a balance between independence and institutional coordination. Salahuddin Ahmed said while judicial independence is essential, it must operate within a framework of “harmonious cooperation” among the branches of the state.
The status of a referendum held under a now-lapsed ordinance also drew attention. The home minister said the vote remains legally valid under the principle of “factum valet,” though any future referendums would require a fresh legal basis or constitutional provision. A court challenge to the referendum’s validity is currently pending.
Among the expired ordinances are measures related to tax and customs reforms, civil aviation, microfinance banking, travel agency regulation, and benefits for private education sector employees. Officials said these, too, may be revised and reintroduced in due course.
The government maintains that the decision to revisit the legislation reflects a commitment to transparency and due process, while critics argue it risks delaying long-awaited reforms in sensitive areas such as enforced disappearances and police accountability.
