TIB 'shocked' as parliamentary committee moves to scrap key reform ordinances

The watchdog has urged the government to place the ordinances in parliament as unchanged bills

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep "shock and disappointment" over a parliamentary special committee's recommendation to scrap and stall several key ordinances aimed at institutional reform and judicial independence.

The Bangladesh chapter of the global anti-graft body on Friday urged the government to place the ordinances -- originally issued by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government -- in parliament as bills without any changes.

The reaction follows a report submitted by the parliamentary special committee on Thursday, which recommended not turning 20 out of 133 interim-era ordinances into law immediately.

The special committee proposed scrapping four ordinances, including those related to the appointment of Supreme Court judges and the creation of a separate secretariat for the judiciary.

It also suggested stalling the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) ordinance for "further vetting".

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman questioned the government's motive behind backtracking on these specific reforms.

"Among the 133 ordinances, those concerning the appointment of judges, a separate judicial secretariat, and the human rights commission were the most significant strides toward strengthening the country's democratic and institutional foundations," he said in a statement.

Iftekharuzzaman pointed out that the ruling party’s own election manifesto promised to ensure the effective independence of the judiciary and strengthen a separate secretariat under the Supreme Court's control.

"Is this the specimen of that commitment? Or was the promise of judicial independence merely rhetoric to influence public opinion?" he asked.

The TIB chief expressed grave concern over the recommendation to stall the NHRC ordinance and two ordinances related to the prevention of enforced disappearances.

"How can a government, whose members were victims of enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings under the previous autocratic regime, put these protections into the trap of 'further vetting'?" Iftekharuzzaman questioned.

He warned that any attempt to provide indemnity to those involved in such crimes under the guise of "national security" or by requiring government permission for investigations against security forces would be "suicidal" and a step backward for human rights.

Iftekharuzzaman, who headed the ACC Reform Commission under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muahmmad Yunus, also called for the immediate passage of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) ordinance.

He urged the inclusion of an "independent selection and review committee" to ensure the commission's full autonomy -- a proposal he claimed had received consensus from political parties, including the BNP, but was "purposefully excluded" from the ordinance.

Regarding the Police Commission, TIB noted that the current ordinance fails to reflect the need for an independent and professional force, contradicting the recommendations of the "July Charter" agreed upon by political parties.

TIB concluded by calling on all political parties in parliament to learn from the "July uprising" and prove their commitment to the people by approving these reform-oriented bills without delay.