Speaker stops law minister during enforced disappearance speech as Opposition calls it ‘unwelcome’

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has intervened and stopped the law minister after the Opposition leader objected to Md Asaduzzaman’s “additional speech” on the trial of enforced disappearances in the House.

Asaduzzaman was speaking while proposing the passage of the International Crimes (Tribunals) (Amendment) Bill along with several others on Tuesday.

The minister said: “This is a bill in which enforced disappearances have been included in the definition of crimes against humanity.”

Those alleging that the government does not want trials into enforced disappearances should read the law thoroughly, he suggested.

Stating that enforced disappearances have been defined as a crime against humanity in the law, Asaduzzaman said: “We’ve brought a ‘demonstration’ in this law that we are determined to prosecute enforced disappearances.”

Standing on a point of order after the bill was passed, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman called the minister’s statement “unwelcome”.

“It would have been better if we had not mentioned this part. We’ll participate in the discussion when the right time comes,” he said.

In response, Asaduzzaman maintained that he provided the clarification because many were questioning the government’s commitment to the issue.

The speaker immediately cut him short, advising the minister to ignore the opinions of “outsiders” while on the floor.

Speaker Hafiz also advised him to keep his focus on parliamentary rules and laws, adding that there was no requirement to address external critics within the House.

Soon afterward, the parliament moved forward to pass eight bills including the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, the Civil Courts (Amendment) Bill, the Registration (Amendment) Bill, and the Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Conservation Bill.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (Amendment) Bill, Sheikh Hasina Medical University (Amendment) and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Medical University Sylhet (Amendment) Bill were also cleared.

The bills did not draw any clause-by-clause amendment proposals, meaning there was no separate discussion on them.

They were directly adopted by voice vote after the ministers proposed their passage.