Parliament to Hold Double Sessions Daily to Clear Backlog of 133 Ordinances

The Parliament Secretariat announced this "double shift" schedule to meet the constitutional mandate of converting 133 pending ordinances into formal acts within a strictly defined timeframe. Under this new arrangement, lawmakers will participate in legislative sessions during both morning and afternoon shifts to accelerate the passage of critical bills.

According to the Constitution of Bangladesh, any ordinance promulgated by the President must be passed as a law within 30 days of the first sitting of the subsequent parliamentary session; otherwise, it automatically becomes void. To manage this immense legislative pressure, the Parliament has intensified its pace. Out of the 133 pending ordinances, nine have already been passed as bills. Notably, yesterday, April 6, seven significant bills were passed in a single working day, and three additional bills were introduced on the floor.

Despite the rapid progress, the three bills introduced on Monday faced observations and objections from the opposition bench, preventing their immediate passage. These pending bills are expected to be the primary focus of today’s double-session deliberations as the government seeks to reach a consensus. The Parliament Secretariat noted that such a dual-session strategy is rare in the country's parliamentary history but essential given the volume of executive orders that require legislative approval to remain effective.

Political analysts suggest that the "Double Shift" session reflects the interim or transitional nature of the current legislative environment, where a large number of ordinances were issued prior to the formation of the 13th Parliament. With the 30-day constitutional clock ticking, the next few days are expected to see record-breaking legislative activity. Government whips have urged all members to ensure full attendance in both shifts to maintain the quorum and ensure that no vital ordinance expires due to time constraints.