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Ordinance on RTI not on

JS bill list Unlikely to be ratified soon

Staff Correspondent
The Right to Information Ordinance proclaimed by the immediate past caretaker government appears unlikely to be ratified by parliament anytime soon.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed did not reply directly to queries if the newly elected legislature convening tod ay will ratify the ordinance.
Instead, he said the caretaker administration promulgated many ordinances--some out of necessity and some without consultation with the stakeholders.
"You journalists are major stakeholders in the matter (Right to Information], but did they discuss the ordinance with you before promulgation?" he asked.
In response to growing demands from civil society
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and rights organisations, Fakhruddin Ahmed-led administration promulgated the ordinance to ensure public access to information, which is considered a major tool to fight corruption.
Replying to a question, he said the caretaker government does not need the ninth parliament to ratify its failure to hold general election within 90 days and stay in power for nearly two years.
"A High Court (HC) bench has already accepted the Election Commission's explanation for failure to hold the parliamentary polls within the constitution-stipulated time limit," he told a meet-the-press programme at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
He said the HC must have weighed carefully the implications of its decision which is now a law.
Shafique said all 122 ordinances aecreed by the president during the caretaker regime would be placed before parliament at its first sitting.
The lawmakers will decide
which of those will be presented as bill to be made into laws considering public interest.
He however said the ordinances relating to elections, finance and budget must go through parliamentary debates.
Asked whether the ruling party has any plans to amend the constitution to provide for another deputy speaker, the law minister said it would be speculative to suggest anything now as the decision rests with parliament.
He said he does not know anything about the issue, which might be discussed at Awami League Parliamentary Party meeting today.
Shafique said they will strive for honest and competent judges filling the vacant posts in the High Court and Appellate Division as soon as possible to lessen the sufferings of justice seekers.
He said he is well aware that shortage of judges in both divisions of the Supreme Court is only adding to the already hugebacklogofcases.
The law minister also said he supports separate independent secretariat for the lower judiciary and “it's expected that this question will be taken seriously".
About initiating trial of the war criminals, he said, “As of now, I have no information. I think the government will start working on the issue."
The matter may come up in parliament, he added.
Asked about plans to scrap Islam as the state religion from the constitution, Shafique said in a democratic society the state cannot divide its citizens on the basis of religion.
Queried if the government would take steps to ban religion-based politics, he said politics exploiting religion could be stopped by the Special Powers Act He urged journalists to marshal public support for an end to religion-based politics.
DRU President Shamim Ahmad presided over the meet and its General Secretary Pathik Shaha briefly spoke about functions of their organisation.