Prominent Bangladeshi citizens and activists are voicing fierce discontent with the government’s rollback of pivotal ordinances aimed at reforming the National Parliament. Coming hot on the heels of BNP’s electoral victory, this reversal is seen as a U-turn on pledges to strengthen democracy, judiciary, and human rights frameworks.
The controversy ignited post the passage of three contentious bills on Sunday: repealing and reinstating provisions for the National Human Rights Commission, Supreme Court judge appointments, and the Supreme Court secretariat. Local reports from The Daily Star captured the sentiment, quoting critics who decry the move as weakening reform momentum and exposing electoral hypocrisy.
A coalition of 31 influential voices issued a unified condemnation, recalling civil society’s decade-long push for these changes. They referenced a parliamentary committee’s blueprint from the 13th assembly, advocating unamended passage for most ordinances while tweaking reform-linked ones for reintroduction as bills.
Supporters of the original ordinances branded the repeal a ‘dismissal of citizen hopes,’ taken amid stiff opposition resistance and widespread calls for accountability. The statement pulled no punches: “This flies in the face of the current government’s manifesto and solemn commitments—we strongly oppose it.”
Scrutiny intensified over shelved suggestions to probe the Right to Information amendments and anti-enforced disappearance measures, deemed ‘completely wrongheaded.’ For the human rights commission, longstanding governmental assurances rang hollow, with experts stressing the need for swift updates to meet global benchmarks—changes that could empower victim redress and punitive actions.
The Daily Star highlighted accusations that the ruling party’s manifesto explicitly promised a robust Supreme Court secretariat, now jeopardized, risking the erosion of judicial independence and renewed executive sway over subordinate judiciary.
Urging the government to legislate these ordinances properly, the signatories cautioned of imminent public mobilization: “Without action, protests and campaigns will undoubtedly surge.” As Bangladesh navigates its post-election landscape, this rift signals potential challenges to the BNP’s reform agenda and public trust.
