The interim government has decided to repeal the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Family Members Security Act, 2009.
In line with this decision, the advisory council of the interim government on Thursday granted both policy and final approval to the draft of the "Ordinance to Repeal the Security Act for Family Members of the Father of the Nation, 2024."
This decision came during a meeting of the council, according to a press release from the chief adviser's press wing.
The press wing said the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs had taken the initiative to repeal the law.
The press release mentions that the act was enacted and enforced following the previous government's decision. Subsequently, on May 15, 2015, a gazette was issued under this law to provide special security and benefits.
“The law was made solely to provide special state benefits to the members of one family, which constitutes clear discrimination.”
The interim government is firmly committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination, it adds.
Given that parliament is currently dissolved, immediate action was required to repeal this law through the issuance of an ordinance, it says.
Notably, on August 25, a writ petition was filed in the High Court challenging the legality of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's Family Members Security Act as well as the Special Security Force Act, 2021.
The petition was filed by Mohammad Moniruzzaman, a Supreme Court lawyer and assistant secretary general of the Human Rights Support Society (HRSS). The court has not yet held a hearing on the matter.
