Constitutional change on consensus: Ashraf
Friday, 25 September 2009
Any change to the constitution will be made based on popular consensus, and the ruling party will not impose its overwhelming majority in Parliament.
Minister for Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Syed Ashraful Islam said this, while talking to journalists at the Secretariat in the city Thursday, reports bdnews24.com.
"The Awami League will not meddle with the constitution even though it enjoys absolute majority", the LGRD minister said.
"The government would like to see the required changes such as the caretaker government system, parliamentary tenure and local government system effected based on dialogue with all instead", the minister said.
Ashraf, also the AL general secretary, urged the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to return to Parliament and make it more functional.
"Democracy will not put down its roots until the Parliament is made more effective."
Ashraf expressed fear about seeing situations like 1/11 over and again until democracy is institutionalised.
"All political parties will have to behave responsibly to make that effective and all these deliberations must be carried out in Parliament", he said.
Syed Ashraf earlier exchanged post-Eid greetings with the secretariat officials and employees.
State Minister for LGRD Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Whip Mirza Azam and Local Government Secretary Manzoor Hossain were present, among others.
Meanwhile, BSS adds: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Shafique Ahmed said his ministry would send a referral to the Law Commission soon seeking its opinion on the amendments made to the country's Constitution at different times in the past.
"This referral will also look into the drawbacks made due to amendments to the Constitution from time to time, creating various obstacles to good governance in the country."
He said Thursday while talking to reporters after his meeting with German Ambassador to Bangladesh Holger Michael.
Explaining the reason of the necessity to send the referral to the law commission, Shafique Ahmed said the amendments had badly affected the main features of the Constitution, which especially lost its original character due mainly to the proclamations issued by the Martial Law governments.
"After getting the recommendations from the Law Commission, the ministry will refer it to the concerned authorities for bringing necessary amendment to the Constitution," he said adding, "our aim is to restore the main spirit of the country's War of Liberation".
The Law Minister also said some amendments had destroyed the hopes and aspirations of the people, who made their supreme sacrifice for achieving the country's independence and also fought for long to establish a real democratic society free from deprivation.
Shafique Ahmed said, "our dream as well as commitment is to restore the peoples' rights, especially enshrined in the country's Constitution. But those were unfortunately ignored while amending the Constitution from time to time."
However, he said, there would be no time frame for the recommendations of the Law Commission in this connection.
Minister for Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Syed Ashraful Islam said this, while talking to journalists at the Secretariat in the city Thursday, reports bdnews24.com.
"The Awami League will not meddle with the constitution even though it enjoys absolute majority", the LGRD minister said.
"The government would like to see the required changes such as the caretaker government system, parliamentary tenure and local government system effected based on dialogue with all instead", the minister said.
Ashraf, also the AL general secretary, urged the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to return to Parliament and make it more functional.
"Democracy will not put down its roots until the Parliament is made more effective."
Ashraf expressed fear about seeing situations like 1/11 over and again until democracy is institutionalised.
"All political parties will have to behave responsibly to make that effective and all these deliberations must be carried out in Parliament", he said.
Syed Ashraf earlier exchanged post-Eid greetings with the secretariat officials and employees.
State Minister for LGRD Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Whip Mirza Azam and Local Government Secretary Manzoor Hossain were present, among others.
Meanwhile, BSS adds: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Shafique Ahmed said his ministry would send a referral to the Law Commission soon seeking its opinion on the amendments made to the country's Constitution at different times in the past.
"This referral will also look into the drawbacks made due to amendments to the Constitution from time to time, creating various obstacles to good governance in the country."
He said Thursday while talking to reporters after his meeting with German Ambassador to Bangladesh Holger Michael.
Explaining the reason of the necessity to send the referral to the law commission, Shafique Ahmed said the amendments had badly affected the main features of the Constitution, which especially lost its original character due mainly to the proclamations issued by the Martial Law governments.
"After getting the recommendations from the Law Commission, the ministry will refer it to the concerned authorities for bringing necessary amendment to the Constitution," he said adding, "our aim is to restore the main spirit of the country's War of Liberation".
The Law Minister also said some amendments had destroyed the hopes and aspirations of the people, who made their supreme sacrifice for achieving the country's independence and also fought for long to establish a real democratic society free from deprivation.
Shafique Ahmed said, "our dream as well as commitment is to restore the peoples' rights, especially enshrined in the country's Constitution. But those were unfortunately ignored while amending the Constitution from time to time."
However, he said, there would be no time frame for the recommendations of the Law Commission in this connection.