Yunus’s interim government sets new record for supersonic speed in lawmaking

❐ Staff Reporter

Dr. Yunus’ interim government has set a new record of ‘supersonic speed’ in lawmaking, surpassing the record set by the Emergency government led by Fakhruddin Ahmed nearly two decades ago.

The last four parliaments (the elected parliaments formed after the restoration of democracy following the fall of the Ershad government in 1990) passed an average of 38 laws per year. But Fakhruddin Ahmed’s emergency government of 2007-08 (known as the ‘Tin Uddin’ government’, which included then-President Iazuddin and Army Chief General Moin Uddin Ahmed) broke this record.

In a period of one and a half years, they issued 122 ordinances and enacted 122 laws, which is equivalent to 61 laws per year.

Dr. Yunus’ interim government has surpassed this record as well. In less than a year and a half, they have enacted 133 laws through ordinances. Both of these interim governments have enacted laws much faster than the elected parliaments.

Many of the laws enacted through ordinances have been controversial, overshadowing the positive laws. Both governments have put enormous pressure on the next parliament—the one formed after the December 2008 elections and the one formed after the February 2026 elections—to decide the fate of these ordinances within just 30 days.

This rapid legislation is also seen by some as an abuse of power, although there were some reform measures.