Ruling party members on ordinance review committee seek repeal of referendum ordinance: Jamaat

Jamaat-e-Islami today (25 March) claimed that a proposal from the ruling side to repeal the referendum ordinance has stalled a decision by the special parliamentary committee appointed to review the 133 ordinances issued during the interim government period.

According to a Jamaat MP who is a member of the committee, they could not reach a final decision on placing the referendum ordinance, issued during the interim government, before Parliament, as differences persisted during today's meeting.

Speaking to reporters at the Jatiya Sangsad gate, Opposition Whip and Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan said the matter would now be taken up again at the committee's third meeting, scheduled for Sunday (29 March).

He added that both the ruling and opposition sides have reached a consensus on placing around 115 out of the 133 ordinances, promulgated during the interim government, before Parliament.

However, disagreements remain over 18 ordinances, including those related to the referendum, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), enforced disappearance prevention and redress, and human rights.

Rafiqul alleged that the ruling side's move to abolish the referendum provision contradicts the spirit of the 2024 July Uprising.

"We strongly oppose the government's proposal to repeal the referendum bill. If the referendum is denied, the very spirit of the July movement ceases to exist," he said.

Expressing concern over proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Commission, he said that the existing system of appointing the ACC chairman through a search committee is being removed in the new proposal.

"The proposed ordinance seeks to empower the government to appoint anyone it chooses by scrapping the search committee. Similarly, in the appointment of the Police Commissioner and the Inspector General of Police, preference is being given to government choice over professionalism," he added.

He said the opposition has made it clear that such provisions go against the principles of accountability and reform, and therefore they could not agree to them.

Responding to a question about the ruling party's parliamentary majority, Rafiqul said past governments had used their two-thirds majority to push through decisions, but warned against repeating such practices.

"Arrogance based on numerical strength does not bring good for any nation. We will not agree to anything that goes against public interest," he said.

He also cautioned that any attempt to undermine institutions such as commissions dealing with enforced disappearances and human rights would not be accepted by the public.

The Jamaat leader said unresolved issues would be discussed again at the next meeting on March 29, while the committee is expected to submit its final report by 2 October.

He added that the legality of any law or ordinance should be determined by the courts, but the opposition does not support any unilateral move to repeal an existing law.