Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said on Sunday that a constitution is never “reformed,” rather it is repealed, suspended, or “amended.”
Speaking during a discussion in Parliament regarding the July Charter and constitutional amendments, Salahuddin proposed the formation of a “Special Parliamentary Committee” comprising all political parties to oversee the amendment process.
He emphasised the government’s commitment to honouring the aspirations of the July student-people uprising.
The minister announced that the essence of the 2024 July Charter and the July Manifesto would be incorporated into the Fourth Schedule of the constitution. However, he noted that nothing compares to the spirit of 1971.
Criticising the 15th Amendment, Salahuddin described it as “legislative fraud.”
He pointed out that while the High Court has already declared parts of it unconstitutional, the sovereign Parliament will ultimately decide on the cancellation or amendment of the remaining portions.
Specifically, Salahuddin called for the abolition of the “false history” and “so-called declaration of independence” currently found in Schedules 5, 6, and 7.
The Minister asserted that the “true history” they intend to restore is that former president Ziaur Rahman declared independence on 26th March and announced himself as the provisional head of state from Kalurghat on 27 March.
Regarding the fundamental principles of the state, the home minister expressed a determination to reinstate “Absolute Trust and Faith in Almighty Allah” in the constitution.
He noted that this principle, originally included by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, was removed by the subsequent “fascist government.”
While he admitted that some political parties had objected to its inclusion in the July Charter, he stated the government remains firm in its resolve to bring it back.
Salahuddin further mentioned that the government has received a mandate to introduce a 100-member Upper House, where political parties will be represented proportionally.
Concluding his remarks, he invited government, opposition, and independent members to join the proposed special parliamentary committee for discussions.
He stressed that the manner in which the constitution is amended will be decided within the Parliament and not through any “imported prescriptions” from abroad.
