Report of special committee on ordinances set for tabling in parliament today

The report of a parliamentary special committee on reviewing a large number of ordinances is scheduled to be presented at the Parliament today (2 April).

The session is scheduled to commence at 3:30pm as per the day's agenda released by the parliament secretariat.

Under sub-rule (1) of Rule 211 of the Rules of Procedure, the committee's chairman and lawmaker from Barishal-3, Zainul Abedin, is expected to place the report before the Parliament.

Although the committee's third meeting was slated for today, the parliament secretariat's media wing said it has been cancelled. The panel has so far held two meetings, with the latest being on 29 March.

During that meeting, the committee reviewed a wide range of ordinances, including amendments related to the Anti-Corruption Commission, women and children repression prevention, civil aviation, revenue management, income tax, customs, public procurement, and the Supreme Court administration, among others.

The committee decided to examine the necessity and validity of the ordinances and compile its findings into a report for submission to parliament within a short time.

However, the opposition party has submitted notes of dissent on 14–16 ordinances, particularly those concerning the Human Rights Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, police reforms, prevention of enforced disappearances, judicial appointments, and the establishment of an independent secretariat for the Supreme Court.

After the 29 March meeting, opposition lawmaker Rafiqul Islam Khan said the government had pushed decisions as they were the majority.

However, notes of dissent have been formally recorded on unresolved issues.

The special committee was formed in the first session of the Parliament after the law minister presented 133 interim-period ordinances. The 13-member committee, led by Zainul Abedin, was tasked with reviewing them and submitting a report by 2 April.