The special parliamentary committee on constitutional amendment will gather opinions from all stakeholders to bring about an acceptable, consensus-based revision, committee members said after holding their first meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban today.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the committee said it plans to review the entire constitution while keeping the July National Charter at the forefront of its deliberations.
Chairman of the committee, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, who left the meeting midway, said the panel was open to everyone's views and would consult experts, political parties and professionals.
He expressed hope that the opposition would eventually join the committee, adding that it would accept their suggestions regardless.
Salahuddin described the July Charter as a document of political consensus.
"We will certainly adopt [its proposals]. The points where we gave a note of dissent will be recorded as such," he said, adding that relevant points from their election manifesto would also be included.
Law Minister Asaduzzaman said the government would not bypass the July Charter to impose its political ideology.
Stressing the need to review the entire constitution to maintain a "harmonious interpretation", he said the committee would also consult families of the July Uprising martyrs, protesters and journalists.
Addressing concerns about a repeat of the political crisis that followed the unilateral passage of the 15th Amendment in 2011, which abolished the caretaker government system, Asaduzzaman said the July Charter was a "complete code of political guideline" signed by 33 parties and already incorporated the opposition's recommendations.
Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam Moni reiterated that the committee's doors remained open for the opposition, saying the constitutional amendment was intended for the next generation.
On July 13, Chief Whip Nurul Islam proposed the formation of the special parliamentary committee.
The opposition, however, declined to nominate members and staged a walkout, arguing that reforms should instead be carried out through a Constitution Reform Council.
