SANGSAD BHABAN, Apr 01 (V7N) — Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni announced on Wednesday that the government is moving forward with plans to form a high-level committee of 15 to 20 members tasked with amending the national constitution. The announcement followed the third meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Committee at the National Assembly, as the newly elected 13th Parliament begins to tackle the complex legal legacy of the interim government.

The Chief Whip emphasized that the treasury bench intends for the committee to be inclusive, representing all political factions within the House. "We want to form a committee by giving importance to everyone's opinions," Moni stated. "Our goal is to resolve national issues through rational argument and consensus."

Opposition Demands "Reform" Over "Amendment"

Despite the Chief Whip’s call for unity, a clear rift has emerged between the government and the opposition regarding the legal path forward. Opposition members, primarily led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, have raised significant objections to the government's proposal:

  • Legal Basis Questioned: Opposition lawmakers argued that a standard parliamentary committee for "amendments" lacks the legal standing to address the fundamental structural changes required following the "July National Charter."

  • Reform vs. Amendment: The opposition maintains that the "main issues" of the constitution cannot be fixed through piecemeal amendments. Instead, they are calling for the formation of a Constitution Reform Council, as outlined in the 2025 Implementation Order.

  • Dual Role Debate: Under the July Charter, members of the 13th Parliament were expected to serve a dual role as both legislators and members of a Reform Council. The opposition claims the government is attempting to bypass this council in favor of a traditional committee structure.

Misrepresentation Allegations

The political atmosphere in the House grew tense as the opposition also claimed that the Statement of the Leader of the Opposition made on Tuesday (March 31) had been "misrepresented" in state and private media. They clarified that while they support the democratic process, they will not lend legitimacy to a committee that they believe avoids the deeper institutional reforms promised during the mass uprising of 2024.

The Road Ahead

The 13th Parliament, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, faces a tight deadline. Under the current constitutional framework, the House must decide the fate of 133 ordinances promulgated by the interim government within 30 days of its first sitting.

While the Chief Whip expressed optimism that the opposition would join the committee "soon," the debate over whether to amend the existing document or reform the fundamental structure of the state remains the central friction point of the current session. Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmad is expected to preside over further discussions on the committee’s Terms of Reference (ToR) later this week.

END/SMA/AJ