A special parliamentary committee is being formed to consider amendments to the constitution of Bangladesh -- a move akin to a main motto of the 2024 uprising that brought about regime change.
The ruling party has initiated the amendment steps, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman told parliament (Jatiya Sangsad) Wednesday.
He made the announcement while placing a proposal ahead of discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the presidential address to the House.
The law minister said, "The government intends to follow established constitutional practices in taking forward the amendment process."
In line with that, he and the home minister have already proposed the formation of a parliamentary special committee dedicated to constitutional amendments.
He said an initial list of 12 members was prepared under Rule 266 of the rules of procedure. The proposed committee includes representatives from the BNP, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Ganosamhati Andolon, Bangladesh Jatiya Party and independent lawmakers. Of the 12 members, seven are from the BNP and five from other parties.
Asaduzzaman adds that since the opposition holds around 26-percent representation in parliament, they have been asked to nominate five additional members. If the opposition submits the names, the committee could be expanded to a 17-member one.
He hopes once the opposition provides the list, the proposal to formally constitute the committee could be placed as early as the subsequent, enabling work to proceed on constitutional amendments in line with the "July Charter".
Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal said a 12-member list from the treasury bench was nearly finalised and that five names had been sought from the opposition. The committee would then be formed with a total of 17 members. He also hopes the process would move forward quickly if the opposition responds promptly.
Opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman thanks the deputy speaker and says the chief whip has already discussed the matter with him. However, he notes that there are conceptual differences between the sides.
"Our party seeks reforms, but what has been proposed here is amendment. This difference existed before and still remains," he says, adding that the opposition would discuss the issue internally before giving its decision.
In response, the law minister said the government had no objection to the opposition's position and was willing to wait.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com
