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‘You seek the July Charter but won’t help implement it, that’s contradictory’

Published : Sunday, 30 August, 2026 at 9:55 PM

Observer Online Report

Collected Photo

Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has urged the opposition to join the special committee formed to amend the Constitution for implementing the 'July National Charter', saying it is contradictory to demand the charter’s implementation while refusing to cooperate in the process.

“Now you want everything based on the July National Charter, but you will not come forward to cooperate in implementing the charter. These two positions are contradictory,” he said.

The minister made the remarks on Sunday (August 30) during a discussion in Parliament on the formation of the special committee for constitutional amendments on the second day of the third session of the National Parliament.

Earlier, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni told Parliament that, following a phone conversation with Opposition Deputy Leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, he had expected the opposition to join the constitutional amendment committee. Based on that understanding, the process of reconstituting the committee had been kept on hold on Sunday.

However, the opposition deputy leader later informed them that the opposition did not want to participate in the committee.

Taking the floor, Salahuddin Ahmed said discussions on implementing the July National Charter had taken place between the prime minister and opposition leaders at an iftar gathering before the election of the Speaker.

“During the discussion, when the issue came up, the honourable Prime Minister said, ‘Let us start implementing the July National Charter from now. You nominate someone for deputy speaker. Under the existing Constitution, there is one Speaker and one Deputy Speaker. We offered the position of Deputy Speaker to the opposition,’” he said.

The home affairs minister said the government had not waited until the July National Charter was fully implemented to take steps toward its implementation. However, the opposition had not agreed to accept the post of Deputy Speaker at the time, he added.

“We then thought that once the July National Charter was fully implemented, meaning once the Constitution was amended, we would proceed accordingly. We had expressed our generosity and willingness to implement the July National Charter even before constitutional amendments were undertaken,” he said.

Regarding the formation of the special committee, Salahuddin Ahmed said it had been constituted under Rule 226 for the purpose of amending the Constitution, with five positions reserved for opposition members.

He said representatives of other political parties represented in Parliament, as well as independent lawmakers and other stakeholders, had also been included in the committee.

The minister said the opposition had taken a principled decision not to join the committee.

“That may be their principled decision. But if the Constitution is not amended, the July National Charter will not have been implemented. It will happen after the amendment. We have already started the work, and the committee has been formed,” he said.

Salahuddin Ahmed said the committee had already held one meeting under his chairmanship. It would prepare a report after taking opinions from people from different professions and sections of society, as well as constitutional experts.

“There are constitutional experts, former chief justices, judges, the Supreme Court Bar Association, friends from the press and editors. We will also invite those who worked on and were involved in drafting the July National Charter,” he said.

He added that the committee would also consult university teachers, family members of those killed during the July mass uprising and July fighters.

“We will speak to people from all sections and professions in this way. Based on their opinions, we will prepare the report,” he said.

The minister said the constitutional amendment bill would subsequently be placed before Parliament through the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

“Keeping the July National Charter in mind, and also going beyond the charter, we will bring a comprehensive constitutional amendment bill reflecting the expectations of society, our election manifesto, public aspirations and the recommendations of those we will consult,” he said.

Calling on the opposition to join the constitutional amendment committee, Salahuddin Ahmed said, “Come to the constitutional amendment committee. We will record whatever you have to say. Your reports and statements will all be included in the report. The nation will know your position.”

“You may disagree and express differences of opinion, while you will certainly agree with some proposals. We will also include some other issues in the Constitution. Whether those proposals come from you or people from other professions, they may bring new ideas. We are very open to this,” he said.

The minister also said the issue of opposition participation in parliamentary committees was linked to the July National Charter. According to him, there had been consensus in the charter on giving opposition lawmakers chairmanship of parliamentary committees.

However, he said constitutional amendments would be required to implement that provision.

“You cannot say that all your demands must be accepted, and then say that you will not join the constitutional amendment committee. That is not cooperation. Please come to the constitutional amendment committee,” Salahuddin Ahmed said.

He added, “Whenever you participate, we will welcome you. Then the July National Charter will be fully implemented. Until then, we will proceed according to the existing provisions.”

Addressing the opposition at the end of his remarks, the home affairs minister said, “Now you want everything based on the July National Charter, but you will not cooperate in implementing it. These two positions are contradictory.”

-HIS