Government to promote healthy politics from Parliament: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday said the government intends to cultivate a culture of responsible politics, starting with the Jatiya Sangsad.

“We are trying to improve our existing political culture gradually. It is not possible to implement it overnight, but we want to start practising good political culture from the National Parliament,” he said.

The minister made the remarks at a dialogue titled "Human Rights Commission Ordinance 2025: Expectations for the New Parliament", organised by Citizen Platform-Reform Watch at the Bangladesh China-Friendship Conference Center.

“We want to promote good democratic practices and eliminate the bad culture of the past by nurturing a positive political culture,” he added.

The dialogue was chaired by Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, convener of Citizen Platform and fellow of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), and attended by MPs Barrister A. M. Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Advocate Md Fazlur Rahman, Barrister Rumeen Farhana, Advocate Ahmed Azam Khan, Professor Rehman Sobhan, Barrister Sara Hossain, women's leader Khushi Kabir, and others.

Salahuddin Ahmed said serious human rights violations occurred under the previous regime, especially through misuse of state machinery. “As a political party and a nation, we are committed to protecting human rights, particularly those guaranteed in the Constitution. This is included in our election manifesto and our 31-point plan,” he said.

He added that human rights development must be gradual, and it is not possible to protect all rights fully overnight. “We aim to improve Bangladesh’s human rights standards and indicators at the international level, but this will take time. We are aware of the obstacles that may arise and are prepared to address them,” he said.

The Home Minister said the government has agreed on almost all aspects of the Human Rights Commission Ordinance. Some amendments may be needed, which will be introduced as bills in Parliament.

Regarding the 133 ordinances issued during the interim government, he said most can be accepted as they are, but several require discussion. “Under the Constitution, ordinances must be passed, amended, or repealed within 30 days of the first session of the National Parliament. If not, they will lapse, but can be reintroduced as bills in the next session,” he added.

He said the government will give an opening speech in Parliament and take all possible steps within the first 30 days, including the Human Rights Commission Ordinance and seven ordinances under the Home Ministry.