All-party panel beyond constitution: BNP

---

The opposition BNP has claimed that formation of the all-party committee to review the country's constitution is beyond the constitution itself and the rules of procedure of the parliament, as well, report agencies.
"There is no rule on the formation of such committee in the rules of procedure," BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain said at a press conference Wednesday.
"There is a provision to form a 'special committee' to amend the constitution on a specific issue according to the rules of procedure. Section 76 of the constitution also states formation of such a committee," he added.
"We also formed a special committee for changing the 12th Amendment."
Khaleda sat with some of her party's policymakers Tuesday night and decided to respond to the Chief Whip's letter.
He further said it would not be proper to amend the constitution by the court through exerting pressure.
Responding to Awami League leader Suranjit Sengupta's remarks, Delwar said the constitution can't be amended by the order of the Supreme Court (SC). It has been written in the constitution how the constitution can be changed, he added.
He further said the SC can give an explanation but can't order amending the constitution.
Regarding the reply to Chief Whip Shahid's letter, the BNP secretary general said the letter did not mention the rules of procedure through which the committee will be formed. 'We have given reply to the letter seeking reply over the matter," he said.
Referring to the newspaper reports of forming 19-member APPC, Delwar said the ruling party did not wait for 'our' reply to the letter.
Delwar, himself a former treasury bench chief whip, said parliamentary committees could be formed only on the ministries, on accounts, special power and some others by the Speaker. "There is no other rule to outline a committee beyond these."
Treasury chief whip Abdus Shahid said the panel would be constituted even if BNP did not nominate a member.