Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said that the ordinances repealed in the current session of Jatiya Sangsad will be reviewed, dismissing criticism from opposition leaders as “confusing”.
He made the remarks at a press conference held at the Home Ministry on Sunday, April 12, focusing on the 133 ordinances, promulgated during the interim government’s regime, placed before the Jatiya Sangsad.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Chief Whip Nurul Islam were also present at the briefing.
The law minister said seven repealed ordinances would be scrutinised in due course.
“These ordinances need to be reviewed. We have committed to examining them through amendments,” he said.
Responding to criticism, he accused opposition leaders of misrepresenting the government’s position. “Those who claim we did not address these ordinances and scrapped them are spreading confusion,” he added.
The law minister said that of the 133 ordinances, 97 were passed without any changes, while 13 were approved with minor amendments.
“Seven ordinances have been repealed and preserved through new bills, and 16 were not presented at all,” he said.
He added that, in total, 110 ordinances were required to be placed before Parliament in the form of bills. “These 110 laws were introduced through 91 bills, all of which have been passed by Parliament. The remaining ordinances require further scrutiny,” he said.
Explaining the repealed and preserved ordinances, the minister cited examples including the Human Rights Commission Act, the Supreme Court Judges Appointment Act and the Supreme Court Secretariat Act.
“In each of these cases, the preamble of the bill clearly states why the law is being introduced. We have explicitly mentioned that further consultation and scrutiny with relevant stakeholders are necessary,” he said.
He noted that similar justifications were included in the bills related to judicial appointments and the Supreme Court Secretariat, emphasising the need for additional review before finalising those laws.
“There is no ambiguity here,” the minister said. “When a bill is presented and passed in Parliament, it becomes law – even if it is a repeal bill. Within that process, we have made a clear commitment to the nation that certain provisions will undergo further scrutiny.”
Responding to criticism from opposition lawmakers, he said they had raised concerns but overlooked the government’s emphasis on transparency and accountability.
“The preamble does not usually contain detailed explanations, but we have included clear reasoning in these cases as part of our commitment to transparency,” he added.
The minister also acknowledged that some repealed ordinances contained inconsistencies and errors, which would be addressed through further review.
He said his office had already taken steps to initiate discussions on the Human Rights Commission Act after May 15. “Stakeholders will be invited for consultations soon,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with the 2007-2009 caretaker government, he noted that 122 ordinances were issued during that period, of which only 54 were later enacted into law, while the rest lapsed.
“In contrast, we have turned 117 ordinances into law and have made clear commitments regarding the remainder. There is no lack of goodwill on our part,” he said.
Referring to a recent opinion by a legal expert published in a national daily, the minister said questions had been raised about whether all 133 ordinances issued by the interim government were genuinely necessary.
“Ordinances are meant for urgent situations,” he said. “While that question may be valid, our priority was to ensure full transparency in placing these before Parliament in an appropriate manner.”