Parliament passes bill to ensure welfare, rehabilitation of July Uprising victims

Parliament today (10 April) passed the Dhaka Central University Bill, 2026 and the July Mass Uprising (Protection and Liability Determination) Bill, 2026, alongside several other laws aimed at formalising ordinances issued during the interim government.

The Dhaka Central University Bill was placed by Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon and passed by a voice vote.

The law aims to bring seven government colleges in the capital under a unified academic framework to improve higher education management and resolve long-standing administrative issues.

Under the new law, a central university will be established to oversee education and research at Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College, Mirpur Government Bangla College and Government Titumir College.

Although an earlier proposal suggested grouping the colleges into four schools, the final law allows them to retain their individual identities while being academically affiliated with the new university.

Students will be admitted based on SSC and HSC results along with a centralised admission test, with opportunities to enrol at both the main campus and affiliated colleges.

The institutions will jointly run MPhil and PhD programmes, alongside initiatives for teacher development and advanced training.

The colleges were previously affiliated with the National University before being brought under Dhaka University in 2017. Students had later demanded a separate university, citing academic difficulties. The passage of the law is expected to address those concerns.

Support for July Uprising victims

Parliament also passed the July Mass Uprising (Protection and Liability Determination) Bill, 2026, aimed at ensuring welfare and rehabilitation of families of those killed and injured during the July Uprising 2024.

The bill was placed by Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan.

According to its provisions, the law seeks to provide support to affected families while preserving the historical significance and ideals of the movement in national life.

The legislation originated from an ordinance issued under the interim government led by former chief adviser Muhammad Yunus. A gazette notification for the ordinance was published on 17 January 2025, and it has now been formalised through parliamentary approval.

Other bills passed

During the same sitting, parliament passed 10 more bills aimed at converting ordinances issued during the interim government into laws.

The bills were approved unanimously in the morning sitting, with no clause-by-clause amendments or discussion in the House. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad presided over the session.

A parliamentary special committee had reviewed 133 ordinances issued during the interim government and recommended approving 98 in their original form and 15 in amended form. It also suggested repealing four ordinances and replacing 16 with revised bills.

Among the laws passed were those related to development authorities for Narayanganj, Barishal, Mymensingh, Cumilla and Rangpur. Amendments to the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy law and legislation concerning the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation were also approved.

In addition, several financial laws, including the Deposit Protection Bill, the Excises and Salt Bill, and the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty (Amendment) Bill, were passed unanimously.

The approvals form part of a broader effort to formalise ordinances through parliamentary legislation.