Govt, opposition at odds over constitutional reform

The government has decided to pursue constitutional reform through a special parliamentary committee, rejecting the opposition’s demand for a separate Constitution Reform Council, setting the stage for a fresh political confrontation over the country’s constitutional future.

Government leaders say any constitutional changes must be made within the existing legal framework. The 12-member special parliamentary committee will hold consultations with political parties and other stakeholders before submitting recommendations, which will form the basis of the proposed 18th Constitutional Amendment Bill to be placed before parliament.

The opposition, however, has rejected the move, insisting that the July National Charter and the outcome of the constitutional referendum require the formation of a Constitution Reform Council rather than amendment through parliament alone.

The dispute intensified after opposition lawmakers walked out of parliament on Monday in protest as the committee was formed. They have since vowed to continue opposing the committee inside the House while simultaneously stepping up street demonstrations demanding implementation of the July Charter and the referendum verdict.

Under the Constitution, amendments require the support of a two-thirds majority in parliament, a process the government intends to follow.

Committee formed after opposition walkout
Parliament constituted the 12-member committee on Monday with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed as chairman.

The committee was initially planned to have 17 members, with five seats reserved for opposition nominees. However, the opposition declined to nominate representatives, leaving those positions vacant.

Besides eight BNP lawmakers, the committee includes Zonayed Saki of Gono Songhoti Andolon, Andaleeve Rahman Partho of the Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Nurul Haque of Gono Odhikar Parishad and Md Oliullah of Islami Andolan Bangladesh.

Oliullah later said his name had been included without his knowledge. Speaking on Tuesday, he said he was not present in parliament when the committee was formed and only learned of his inclusion through media reports.

Reaffirming his party’s position, Oliullah said Islami Andolan supports implementation of the July Charter through a Constitution Reform Council.

“We cannot ignore the verdict of 70 per cent of the people. What they are doing amounts to rejecting the people’s referendum verdict,” he said.

Opposition insists on Reform Council
Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman told parliament that lawmakers had taken oath not only as members of parliament but also as members of the Constitution Reform Council, in line with their commitment to implement the referendum verdict.

Later, speaking to reporters, he argued that while the government had accepted the people’s electoral mandate to govern, it was ignoring their verdict on constitutional reform. He urged the government to implement the July Charter and warned that opposition protests would continue otherwise.

Government defends parliamentary route
Presenting the government’s position in parliament, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said constitutional amendment was a prerequisite for establishing any Reform Council.

He argued that a provision for such a council must first be incorporated into the Constitution through political consensus, adding that implementing the referendum verdict itself requires constitutional amendment.

According to the minister, the special parliamentary committee is the appropriate forum to build that consensus.

This is the government’s second attempt to establish such a committee. Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman had made a similar proposal on 29 April, inviting the opposition to nominate five members, but the offer was also rejected.

Political pressure set to intensify
Opposition parties have indicated they will expand their campaign beyond parliament.

NCP Convener Nahid Islam said meaningful and lasting reform of the state was impossible without a Constitution Reform Council. He accused the government of disregarding the wishes of nearly 70 per cent of voters reflected in the referendum and called for the council’s immediate formation.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar also reaffirmed his party’s position, saying it would continue its movement until the referendum verdict was implemented.

“We conceptually reject the idea of constitutional amendment; we want constitutional reform in line with the July Charter mandated by the people of Bangladesh through referendum,” he said.

Bangladesh Rashtra Sangskar Andolan also criticised the government’s decision, saying the July mass uprising and the subsequent referendum reflected public support for fundamental constitutional reform.

The party accused the government of disregarding that mandate by opting to pursue constitutional amendment through the existing parliamentary process rather than establishing a Constitution Reform Council.