FROM PAGE 12

announced a series of protest programmes outside, reiterating the same demands.

According to the schedule, leaders and activists will carry out leaflet distribution and public outreach programmes nationwide from April 9 to April 15.

A BNP Standing Committee member said the party has not changed its position on the Constitution Reform Council, arguing that its members are not required to take an oath and that the proposed structure may conflict with the existing constitution, raising legal and procedural concerns.

Ruling party leaders have also indicated in parliament that they wish to amend the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Ordinance.

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman said the International Crimes Tribunal Act already includes enforced disappearance as a crime against humanity and sets out trial and investigation procedures.

“At the same time, in the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Ordinance, we are proposing a separate investigation process. Under the ICT Act, the maximum punishment is either death or life imprisonment, but in the ordinance, the maximum sentence has been limited to 10 years,” he said in parliament on Sunday, while responding to Jamaat MP Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, who criticised a parliamentary committee’s refusal to ratify the ordinance as a law.

Quasem said that if the government wants changes, it should first approve the ordinance, turn it into law, and then amend it later. He warned that if no action is taken, the law will expire on April 11, leaving no legal definition of enforced disappearance from the following day.

According to constitutional obligation, the House must convert ordinances into laws within 30 days of the commencement of parliament, or they become defunct. To this end, a special committee was formed, comprising 13 lawmakers and chaired by BNP leader Zainul Abedin.

The committee said the anti-enforced disappearance ordinance should be tabled as a bill only after further scrutiny.

Meanwhile, parliament on Tuesday passed the amended International Crimes Tribunal Bill.