The parliament on Thursday repealed ordinances related to the appointment of Supreme Court judges and a separate secretariat for the judiciary under the Supreme Court amid objections from the opposition bench.
Jatiya Sangsad, the Bangla word for the parliament, also passed the National Human Rights Commission (Repeal and Reintroduction) Bill, restoring the National Human Rights Commission Act 2009 and repealing three ordinances on the commission.
Law minister Md Asaduzzaman had placed the bills - the Supreme Court Judges Appointment (Repeal) Bill, 2026, the Supreme Court Secretariat (Repeal) Bill, 2026, and the National Human Rights Commission (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026 on April 6.
The NHRC bill repeals the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024, the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance, 2025, and the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, while reinstating the 2009 Act on an interim basis. It also provides that actions taken under the repealed ordinances will remain valid.
During the session, presided over by speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Cumilla-4 lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah strongly opposed the move. He argued that the 2009 NHRC law had previously been used to suppress opposition voices and warned that reverting to it would be a backward step.
Hasnat questioned the commission’s neutrality, noting that the six-member selection committee is largely composed of government representatives, which could compromise its independence.
He also pointed to provisions requiring prior approval to investigate alleged human rights violations involving state agencies, saying such conditions could obstruct impartial inquiries.
In response, the law minister described the criticism as politically motivated and said that the reinstatement of the 2009 law was a temporary measure to keep the commission functional while broader consultations are held.
He said that the 2025 ordinance lacked clear provisions on investigations and penalties and risked undermining neutrality by allowing the commission to act as a complainant.
The government, he added, remains committed to accountability but wants a transparent and inclusive legal framework. Consultations with political parties, marginalised communities and other stakeholders will precede final reforms.
Under the Supreme Court Secretariat (Repeal) Bill, 2026, the secretariat created by ordinance will be dissolved. Its budget, projects and programmes will be transferred to the Law and Justice Division, and the posts created under the ordinance will be abolished.
The Supreme Court Judges Appointment (Repeal) Bill, 2026 states that actions taken under the repealed 2025 ordinance will be deemed lawful.
On the same day, the parliament passed nine other bills.
The Legal Aid Services (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was passed unanimously after being placed by the law minister.
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026, placed by power, energy and mineral resources minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, and the Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2026, placed by planning minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, were also passed unanimously.
State minister Md Nurul Haque, on behalf of expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment minister Ariful Haque Choudhury, placed the Overseas Employment and Migrants (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Bill, 2026. Both were passed unanimously.
Local government state minister Mir Shahe Alam, on behalf of local government, rural development and co-operatives minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, placed the Local Government (Union Parishads) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was passed unopposed.
Earlier, youth and sports affairs state minister Md Aminul Haque placed the National Sports Council (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the Bangabandhu Krirasebi Welfare Foundation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, and the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Youth Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
Chief whip Nurul Islam said that lawmakers were under pressure to ratify 133 ordinances issued by the interim government within 30 days of the first session, as required under article 93 of the constitution.
