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Bangladeshi intellectuals have expressed “displeasure” over the National Parliament’s decision to repeal several reform ordinances. They say that this step not only breaks the expectations of the people, but is also contrary to the election promises of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government. Local media quoted critics as saying that this move weakens reform efforts and shows the government’s non-promises.

The statement came after Parliament on Sunday passed the National Human Rights Commission (Repeal and Reinstitution) Bill, the Supreme Court Judges Appointment (Repeal) Bill, and the Supreme Court Secretariat (Repeal) Bill.

In a joint statement, 31 prominent people said that civil society had been demanding the passing of these ordinances for a long time.

He said a special committee of the 13th Parliament had recommended passing 98 of the 133 ordinances without changes, while repealing some reform- ordinances and re-introducing others as amended bills later, Bangladesh newspaper The Daily Star reported.

People supporting the bill termed this step of the government as “rejecting the expectations of the citizens of the country”.

He further said that the decision to repeal the ordinances to fundamental reforms, independence of the judiciary and human rights was taken ignoring the strong opposition and demands of the people.

“This is contrary to the election manifesto of the present government and its repeated promises. We strongly oppose it,” the statement said.

Citizens also strongly criticized suggestions to further investigate the Right to Information (Amendment) Ordinance and the ‘Prevention and Remedies of Enforced Disappearances Ordinance’, calling such steps “absolutely wrong”.

Regarding the Human Rights Commission, he said that successive governments had promised to make this body effective, but they had failed to do so.

According to the signatories, the existing law urgently needs to be changed to meet international standards, and said that if passed, the ordinance would have provided relief to victims and empowered the Commission to take action against human rights violators.

According to the report of The Daily Star, civil society alleges that the ruling party had promised in its manifesto to make the Supreme Court Secretariat effective, but now it is not so. He said that repealing this move would destroy judicial independence and would again increase executive pressure on lower courts.

Demanding the government to enact the ordinance through Parliament, the signatories said, “Otherwise, there is no doubt that people will once again be vocal in protest and actively agitate.”