The ruling party on Wednesday proposed forming a special parliamentary committee to amend the Constitution, with Law Minister Asaduzzaman placing the proposal before the Jatiya Sangsad.
Speaking in Parliament, the law minister said the government has prepared a list of 12 members for the proposed committee. The list includes seven members from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and five from other parties, including Ganadhikar Parishad, Ganosamhati Andolon, Bangladesh Jatiya Party, and independent lawmakers.
The government has requested the opposition to nominate five members to ensure proportional representation. According to the law minister, the opposition’s share would account for 26 percent of the committee. If the opposition submits the names, the special committee could be formally constituted in Thursday’s session under Rule 226 of parliamentary procedure.
However, Opposition Leader Shafiqul Rahman said his party was not in a position to immediately provide names, citing differences with the government over the scope of the initiative. He said the opposition favors broader reforms rather than limited amendments to the Constitution, indicating a conceptual disagreement on the issue.
Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni raised the matter in the House following the lunch break, requesting time for the law minister to speak on the proposal before his scheduled remarks on a motion of thanks on the President’s address. Deputy Speaker Kaysar Kamal, who was presiding over the session, then gave the floor to the law minister.
Asaduzzaman said constitutional debate in Bangladesh now extends “even to tea stalls,” underscoring the need for structured discussion within Parliament. He noted that he and the home minister had earlier informed the House of the government’s intention to form a special committee on constitutional amendments, with a view to advancing changes in line with the July Charter.
After the proposal was presented, the deputy speaker formally asked the opposition to submit five names to complete the proposed 17-member panel.
Responding, Shafiqul Rahman said the chief whip had discussed the matter with him and conveyed greetings from the Leader of the House. He reiterated that the opposition needed further internal discussion due to existing differences over whether the process should focus on reforms or amendments. “We have taken note of the proposal and will inform you after discussion,” he said.
In reply, the law minister welcomed the opposition’s position and said the government was prepared to wait until the next parliamentary session if necessary. “We have no difficulty in waiting. We will proceed with constitutional amendments in light of the July Charter,” he told the House.
Concluding the discussion, the deputy speaker said Parliament had taken note that the ruling party had finalized 12 members and that the opposition would decide on its five nominees after consultation, paving the way for the committee’s formation once consensus is reached.
