Suranjit urges BNP to join spl JS body

FE Team | Published: March 31, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Co-chairman of the Special Parliamentary Committee for Constitutional Amendment Suranjit Sengupta Wednesday reiterated his call to the main opposition BNP to join the committee and contribute their prudent opinion and suggestions to have the best constitution for the nation, reports BSS. "Still you have the scope to participate in the special committee for constitutional amendment," Suranjit said adding, "let's shun politics of chaos and confrontations and usher in amity and harmony for the welfare of the nation". Sengupta said, "When you were in power, the country was passing through a crucial juncture. Awami League under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina extended all-out cooperation in passing the 11th and 12th the amendments of the constitution that saved the nation from a disastrous situation". Veteran parliamentarian Suranjit was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion on 'Digital Bangladesh, Charter of Change and Development of Public Health' organised by Bangabandhu Gram Doctors Samity at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU) auditorium in the city. Dhaka City Awami League General Secretary Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Bir Bikram, attended the discussion as the main speaker while City Awami League Publication and Publicity Secretary Abdul Haq Sabuj was the special guest. With Parishad President Dr Abdus Sattar in the chair, the discussion was also addressed, among others, by Bangabandhu Moncha Chairman Niaz Mohammad Khan, Awami Ulema League President Maulana Elias Hossain Bin Helali, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Parishad Senior Joint Secretary Md Abdul Karim Khan, Amra Muktijoddhar Santan President Humayun Kabir and Parishad Secretary General Dr Obaidul Haq. Sengupta said with the revival of 1972 constitution following the verdict of the country's apex court, the nation got back its lost heritage and history. "The ideals and spirit of the War of Liberation that were abolished from the constitution by military proclamation will again be incorporated in the sacred constitution," he added. bdnews24.com adds: Suranjit Sengupta has said the authority of the President to declare emergency during caretaker government has to be curtailed. "Holding absolute power by a single person is contrary to the constitution," he told reporters after a meeting of the committee at the Sangsad Bhaban Wednesday. Suranjit said, "There is a provision in the constitution which says that the President can declare emergency at the advice of the Prime Minister. But during the last caretaker government, one person was both the President and the chief adviser to the interim regime." He said members of the special committee had agreed on curtailing the President's authority in this connection. In 2007, then president Iajuddin Ahmed had declared emergency in the country in the wake of political turmoil. Iajuddin was also the chief adviser to the caretaker government.