The government has moved ahead with its plan to prepare a draft amendment to the Constitution by December despite a boycott by major opposition parties, as the special committee began consultations with political parties on Sunday.
Special committee head and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the committee aims to complete discussions quickly and submit its report to parliament by the end of December.
The initiative, however, has deepened differences with opposition parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP) and the 11-party alliance led by them, which stayed away from the talks.
Only representatives of BNP and like-minded parties attended the meeting at the Cabinet Room of the parliament building.
The opposition parties have demanded full implementation of the referendum verdict and the formation of a Constitutional Reform Council before any amendment process begins. They rejected the special committee as the reform council was not formed.
The meeting, chaired by Salahuddin, began at 2:30pm and was attended by representatives of 17 political parties.
Two representatives each from the president and general secretary levels of the 26 parties and alliances that signed the July National Charter were invited. Fifteen parties sent two representatives each, while several sent three. One party submitted a written statement, and another could not attend due to illness.
Based on the discussions, the committee decided to prepare a draft constitutional amendment within 2026 to “implement the July National Charter”.
Political parties were asked to submit written proposals on the charter’s implementation. The committee said the amendment initiative would be taken after discussions with all stakeholders and consideration of their views.
The meeting also expressed a commitment to fully implement the July National Charter.
At one stage, Rashtra Sanskar Andolan (State Reform Movement) President Hasnat Kaiyum and Joint General Secretary Didar Bhuiyan left the meeting.
Later, Hasnat said that they walked out in protest against the failure to form the Constitutional Reform Council under the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order.
He said the order had set a 180-day timeframe for constitutional reform and that the deadline was still in effect.
After the meeting, Salahuddin said that the July National Charter, including notes of dissent, would be implemented as it was signed. “We want to complete discussions as quickly as possible and submit the report to parliament by the end of December. This will be the 18th amendment to the Constitution,” he said.
Rejecting opposition allegations that BNP does not want to implement the July National Charter, the minister said that the claim was “completely false”.
“We have said that we will implement the July National Charter word for word, in the way it was signed. We will try to bring the constitutional amendment bill as soon as possible,” he said.
Salahuddin said parties that did not sign the July National Charter, along with other registered and unregistered parties, would also have the opportunity to participate in discussions. Written statements from parties unable to attend would also be considered.
Asked whether the process was becoming one-sided due to the absence of opposition parties, he said, “No, it is not becoming one-sided; it is becoming 17-sided.”
Parliament formed the 12-member special committee on constitutional amendments on 13 July with Salahuddin as chairman. Five representatives were sought from opposition parties, but they did not nominate anyone and rejected the committee.
At its first meeting on 4 August, the committee decided to consult political parties, constitutional experts, lawyers and newspaper editors. Sunday’s meeting was part of that process.
11-party alliance rejects process
Meanwhile, the 11-party alliance explained its boycott at a press conference at the National Press Club.
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said, “We do not support amendment. We do not support any initiative for amendment. We want constitutional reform.”
He said the authority received by members of parliament and the constitutional authority granted by the people through a referendum as members of the Constitutional Reform Council were not the same.
“The Constitution creates parliament. Parliament does not create the people,” he said.
Explaining the boycott, Parwar said joining the special committee would mean recognising the process.
“In principle, we reject the approach through which the initiative for constitutional amendment has been taken and the committee has been formed. There is no question of nominating members. Conceptually, we reject it,” he said.
