Parliament passes Anti-Terrorism (Ammendment) Bill; AL's registration suspended under new law
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told parliament that the amendment was introduced to ensure the trial of organisations involved in genocide.
The Jatiya Sangsad today (8 April) passed five bills, including the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2026, with the government saying the new law will result in the suspension of the registration of the Awami League.
The bill was passed during the morning session of the 11th sitting of the first session of the parliament, chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed told the parliament that the amendment was introduced to ensure the trial of organisations involved in genocide. He added that under the revised law, the registration of the Awami League has been suspended.
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He also noted that movements and public opinion created by groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizens Party (NCP) contributed to the process leading to the amendment.
However, while the bill was being tabled for passage, opposition leader Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafikur Rahman sought more time to review it, saying lawmakers had received the bill only minutes earlier. "As the law is sensitive we should be given time to read and understand it," he said.
In response, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said there was no scope to raise objections at that stage and asked the home minister to proceed with placing the bill. He added that concerns should have been raised earlier in the legislative process when there was room for debate.
Alongside the anti-terrorism amendment, lawmakers unanimously passed several other bills. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury placed the Public Audit Bill 2026, while Fisheries Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid tabled the Protection and Conservation of Fish (Amendment) Bill 2026 – both of which were approved without opposition.
Two more bills – the Sheikh Hasina Rural Development Academy, Jamalpur (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Amendment) Bill 2026 – were also passed unanimously after being placed by Local Government State Minister Mir Shahe Alam on behalf of Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
