A special parliamentary committee has been formed to amend the Constitution in line with the July National Charter and recent High Court directives, triggering a walkout by the opposition led by Jamaat-e-Islami.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has been appointed chairman of the 17-member committee, but five reserved seats for opposition members have been left vacant after the opposition refused to nominate representatives.
The opposition walked out of parliament on Monday night, alleging that the committee was formed without considering public opinion and without their participation.
Afterwards, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed strongly responded to Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman’s remarks regarding lawmakers taking two oaths after the election.
The controversy intensified after Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman raised objections over the formation of the committee and defended the validity of lawmakers taking two separate oaths — one as MPs and another as members of the Constitution Reform Council.
Opposition rejects committee
The proposal to form the committee was placed by Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni during a parliamentary session chaired by Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal.
The committee includes Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed as chairman and 11 other members, while five opposition seats remain vacant.
After the proposal was tabled, Shafiqur Rahman said the opposition had never agreed to nominate members despite several discussions with the home minister.
“The opposition members have not accepted this proposal conceptually or in principle,” he said.
He said political parties had campaigned for a “yes” vote in the referendum before the election and had promised to implement the outcome if the proposal received public approval.
The opposition leader said lawmakers had taken two oaths — one as members of parliament and another as members of the Constitution Reform Council — and that both remained valid.
“If this parliamentary committee is formed to bypass or avoid the Reform Council, we completely reject this proposal,” he said.
He said nearly 70 percent, or 68.6 percent, of people had given their verdict through the referendum, and ignoring that mandate could weaken public confidence in democracy.
Announcing their decision, Shafiqur Rahman said the opposition would not join the committee and would leave parliament in protest.
Opposition lawmakers then left the chamber.
Minister challenges two-oath argument
After the walkout, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed responded with permission from the chair.
He said the opposition leader’s reasoning might appear justified from their perspective, but the key demand after the mass uprising was repealing the 15th Amendment.
“If the 15th Amendment is not repealed through this legislation, then even if the High Court or Supreme Court gives a verdict, the country will continue to operate under that controversial amendment,” he said.
Rejecting the opposition leader’s argument over two oaths, the minister said taking a second oath meant the first oath itself became invalid.
He said the election was held under the existing Constitution, the president summoned parliament according to constitutional provisions, and all parliamentary activities were being conducted under the same framework.
Questioning the legal basis of the Constitution Reform Council oath, he said there was no provision in the Constitution allowing such a separate oath.
He described the separate oath document as unconstitutional, saying it violated Article 148 and the Third Schedule of the Constitution.
Dispute over July Charter
The home minister also criticised the referendum order linked to the July National Charter, saying it was beyond jurisdiction and could not override constitutional authority.
He said Article 65 of the Constitution gave parliament the power to legislate and amend the Constitution on behalf of the people.
According to him, the government accepted most parts of the July National Charter agreement but opposed provisions that attempted to interfere with constitutional procedures.
Calling on opposition lawmakers to return to parliament, Salahuddin Ahmed said the government could not remain inactive if a separate Constitution Reform Council process continued outside parliament.
He said without constitutional reform, the country would continue with the 15th Amendment introduced during Sheikh Hasina’s government.
Panel to begin work soon
The home minister said the amendment committee would begin work immediately and hold discussions with political parties, constitutional experts, lawyers, judges, editors, academics and other stakeholders who signed the July National Charter.
Based on those discussions, the 18th Constitutional Amendment Bill would be placed before parliament.
He urged opposition lawmakers to avoid emotional politics and cooperate in preparing a strong constitutional amendment bill.
