Parliament passes 8 ordinances as bills, including ICT amendment

Eight ordinances promulgated by the interim government, including the amendment to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) law, were placed in parliament as bills and passed today (7 April).

The bills were passed in the tenth sitting of the first session of the House, presided over by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

After the session began in the morning, ministers concerned placed the bills for passage. All were approved by voice vote without any clause-by-clause amendments or discussion.

The interim government issued 133 ordinances between 8 August 2024 and 17 February 2026. To review them, a 13-member special committee comprising both treasury and opposition lawmakers was formed on 12 March, the first day of the current session.

The committee recommended approving 98 ordinances unchanged and 15 in amended form. The ordinances issued by the interim government must be passed within 30 days of the start of the session or they will lapse. The deadline for their approval is 9 April.

Of the remaining ordinances, the committee recommended repealing four and introducing stronger, revised bills for 16 at a later stage.

Among the bills passed, Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury placed the Haor and Wetland Protection Bill, which was approved by voice vote.

Law Minister Asaduzzaman later moved separate motions to pass the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill, International Crimes (Tribunals) (Amendment) Bill, and Registration (Amendment) Bill. All were passed individually by voice vote.

In the absence of the health minister, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed tabled three bills: the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Bill, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (Amendment) Bill, and Sheikh Hasina Medical University (Amendment) Bill. The latter two were passed.

Later, the health minister moved the Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Medical University, Sylhet (Amendment) Bill, which was also passed by voice vote. The amendments were primarily introduced to formalise name changes made earlier through ordinances.