JS passes 8 more bills, includes enforced disappearance as crime against humanity

Eight more bills have been passed in the National Parliament to turn the ordinances issued by the interim government into laws. The bills were passed by voice vote in the session held on Tuesday (April 7) with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair. Since there were no amendment proposals, they were passed directly by vote without discussion.

A special committee of the parliament has recommended passing 98 of the total 133 ordinances of the interim government unchanged and 15 with amendments. Of the remaining 20, 4 have been recommended to be repealed and 16 have been recommended to be strengthened and brought into the form of new bills.

Among the bills passed today, Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee introduced the ‘Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Conservation Bill, 2026’.

Law Minister Advocate Md. Asaduzzaman separately proposed the passage of the ‘Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill’, ‘Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill’, ‘International Crimes (Tribunal) (Amendment) Bill’ and ‘Registration (Amendment) Bill’.

While tabling the bill related to the International Crimes Tribunal, the Law Minister said that the law includes enforced disappearance or disappearance as a crime against humanity. He also said that the government’s position was clarified before the bill was presented as many people had raised questions about the government’s willingness to prosecute disappearances.

Several bills related to the Ministry of Health were also passed on the day. In the absence of the Health Minister, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed tabled the ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (Amendment) Bill, 2026’ and the ‘Sheikh Hasina Medical University, Khulna (Amendment) Bill, 2026’. Later, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain moved the motion to pass the 'Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Medical University, Sylhet (Amendment) Bill, 2026' and it was passed by voice vote.

Apart from this, the 'Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products (Control) (Amendment) Bill' was also passed.