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The 13th National Parliament continued its marathon sitting on Wednesday, pressing ahead with the disposal of a substantial legislative backlog inherited from the previous interim government, which assumed office following the 2024 mass uprising.
A total of 13 interim ordinances were ratified during two sittings on the day.
With dozens of ordinances awaiting formal approval, parliament has extended its schedule to ensure timely ratification or repeal. Under the constitution, ordinances issued during the interim government’s tenure must be tabled in the House within 30 days of its first sitting, held on 12 March. Those not ratified by Saturday will automatically lapse.
In response, two daily sittings began on Tuesday, with preparations underway for two more sessions on Friday to manage the remaining workload.
The current session marks a significant step in restoring full parliamentary functionality in the 13th National Parliament, despite a tense but productive atmosphere as members from both government and opposition benches engaged in spirited debate during the President’s address and other proceedings.
Several MPs participated in the discussion, including BNP representatives SM Jahangir Hossain (Dhaka-18), Khaled Hossain Mahbub Shyamal (Brahmanbaria-3), Md Anwarul Haque (Netrokona-2), Shah Md Wares Ali Mamun (Jamalpur-5), Md Mujibur Rahman (Gazipur-1), Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury (Moulvibazar-4), Jamaat MPs Mohammad Zahirul Islam (Chattogram-16) and Md Rashedul Islam Rashed (Sherpur-1), and NCP MP Abdullah Al Amin (Narayanganj-4).
During the debate, Md Mujibur Rahman of Gazipur-1 called for official recognition of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as a child freedom fighter, alongside similar honours for the late BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and her late son Arafat Rahman Koko. He cited their imprisonment by Pakistani forces during the 1971 Liberation War.
Wednesday’s first sitting started at 11am, half an hour late due to microphone disturbances, with Speaker Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad presiding. The second sitting began at 3:30pm after Maghrib prayers, led by Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal.
The primary focus remained the legislative push, with 13 bills passed unanimously, ratifying interim government ordinances. The bills included: Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2026; July Mass Uprising (Protection and Liability Determination) Bill, 2026; Public Accounts Audit Bill, 2026; Protection and Conservation of Fish (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Sheikh Hasina Rural Development Academy, Jamalpur (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026; Spatial Planning Bill, 2026; Abandoned Buildings (Supplementary Provisions) (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and Security of Family Members of the Father of the Nation (Repeal) Bill, 2026.
With no amendment proposals, all bills passed through voice votes immediately after presentation. Since Sunday, Parliament has ratified 23 ordinances and repealed one. Out of 133 ordinances under review, 60 have already been disposed of, with 32 bills covering 58 ordinances.
The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introduced by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, empowers the government to ban not only terrorist entities but also their activities, including rallies, meetings, and public speeches.
This ratification ensures the ongoing prohibition of Awami League activities, originally imposed under the 2025 ordinance.
Similarly, the July Mass Uprising (Protection and Liability Determination) Bill, 2026 grants legal immunity to participants of the 2024 uprising, preventing withdrawal of existing cases or filing of new complaints against them. NCP MP Hasnat Abdullah opposed the bill until the National Human Rights Commission Bill was settled, prompting a government assurance for a new, international-standard commission. The Public Accounts Audit Bill, 2026, moved by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, formalises auditing powers for the Comptroller and Auditor-General across all public accounts, including courts, authorities, and employees. Other bills covering fisheries, local development, water management, spatial planning, and abandoned buildings were also passed to consolidate multiple ordinances efficiently.
Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni highlighted the constitutional pressure to dispose of all 133 ordinances within 30 days, noting 54 have already been addressed. Some ordinances have been combined into single bills for speedier approval. On the microphone disruption, the Chief Whip confirmed that investigations revealed serious irregularities and corruption in the sound system, with action planned against those responsible once the session concludes.
Parliament will continue its marathon sittings, including Friday if necessary, to ensure all pending ordinances are ratified or repealed within the constitutional deadline.