Bangladesh parliament rolls back key reforms post-student uprising

Bangladesh’s parliament has recently cancelled or rolled back several reforms introduced after the 2024 student-led uprising, which aimed to enhance government and security forces accountability. The ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which gained power in February elections, reviewed a package of 133 ordinances, resulting in at least 23 being repealed or lapsing due to lack of parliamentary approval. These included significant measures related to human rights, judicial oversight, anticorruption, and policing, raising concerns about a potential backtrack on democratic gains made since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster.

Opposition parties and civil society groups have voiced alarm over the rollback, warning it could weaken oversight and re-centralize power. The government, however, maintains that it is conducting a necessary legislative review to correct flaws and intends to reintroduce more robust laws after consultation. The situation has escalated beyond parliament, with opposition alliances staging protests and threatening a nationwide movement, reflecting a deeper struggle over Bangladesh's political direction.

The reforms in question stem from the July 2024 uprising, which led to the fall of Hasina’s government amid widespread criticism of governance and human rights abuses. An interim administration led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus had introduced a National Charter aimed at structural reform, which was endorsed by numerous political parties and supported by the public in a referendum. However, the new parliament's actions have raised doubts about the BNP government's commitment to the reform vision outlined in the charter.

One significant reversal involves the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which had been granted expanded powers under a 2025 ordinance to investigate state agency abuses. This ordinance has now been repealed, reverting to a 2009 law that limits the NHRC's investigative capabilities, raising concerns about its independence. Former NHRC commissioner Nabila Idris criticized the government's rationale for the repeal, suggesting that weakening legal safeguards could have broader implications for accountability in Bangladesh.

What to watch: The upcoming parliamentary sessions will be critical as the government seeks to reintroduce revised laws and address the concerns raised by opposition and civil society groups.