Uncertainty over constitutional reforms deepened yesterday as opposition MPs walked out in protest at the formation of a special parliamentary committee, insisting that the reforms be carried out through a council outlined in the July charter.
The walkout marked one of the biggest flashpoints between the ruling BNP and the opposition since the 13th parliament was formed in February.
Chief Whip Nurul Islam yesterday placed a proposal to form the 17-member special parliamentary committee -- 12 from the ruling alliance and five seats reserved for the opposition -- to recommend constitutional amendments before the House.
He said the proposal was made with the consent of Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman.
It was passed by voice vote after the opposition declined to nominate members and staged a walkout.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed will head the committee. Its members include Chief Whip Nurul Islam; Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman; State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Helal Uddin; State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin; BNP MPs Zainul Abdin, Shakila Farzana and Mahmudul Haque Rubel; Ganosamhati Andolon MP and State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki; Bangladesh Jatiya Party MP Andaleeve Rahman; Gono Odhikar Parishad MP and State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare Nurul Haque; and Islami Andolan Bangladesh MP Md Oli Ullah.
While tabling the proposal, the chief whip said the government remained committed to implementing the July charter.
“We propose forming a 12-member committee today, leaving five seats vacant for them. Once the names are received, the committee will be reconstituted,” he said.
At that time, Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman reiterated that his party rejected the committee in principle.
He said the government had discussed the proposal with the opposition since the first parliamentary session, but Jamaat had consistently maintained it would not nominate members.
“Conceptually, we do not accept this committee,” he said.
Shafiqur argued that political parties had urged voters to support the constitutional reform referendum before the election and had pledged to implement its outcome.
He said MPs from their alliance had taken two oaths: one as lawmakers and another as members of the proposed Constitution Reform Council.
“If this committee is formed to bypass the referendum, we reject the proposal and stand by our earlier position,” Shafiqur said.
He warned that disregarding the referendum, in which 68.6 percent voted in favour of the reform proposals, would undermine public confidence in democracy.
“Ignoring or insulting this public intent is unacceptable. Out of respect for the people’s verdict, we will not join the committee. As their decision is not being honoured, we are walking out in protest,” he said.
After the opposition walked out, Salahuddin said constitutional reform could only be implemented through parliament.
“The people of Bangladesh expect the July charter to be implemented. We aim to repeal the 15th amendment,” he said.
He argued that the second oath taken by opposition MPs as members of the proposed reform council was unconstitutional and therefore invalid.
“Their argument about respecting the referendum is misplaced. To honour the referendum, constitutional amendments is essential.”
He said the committee would consult political parties, constitutional experts, the judiciary, lawyers, the Supreme Court Bar Association, editors and intellectuals before preparing recommendations.
Those recommendations would form the basis of the proposed 18th Constitutional Amendment Bill, Salahuddin said.
“We hope the opposition will set aside emotional politics and cooperate in bringing forward a strong amendment in the interest of democracy,” he added.
After taking charge following the July uprising, the interim government initiated a series of reform programmes and held a referendum on key reform proposals alongside the national election.
The July Charter Implementation Order envisaged a Constitution Reform Council comprising all MPs of the 13th parliament to consider 48 constitutional amendment proposals.
The BNP endorsed many of them, but it submitted notes of dissent on several key provisions and favours implementing reforms through parliament rather than the proposed council.
While 77 MPs from the Jamaat-led alliance took both oaths, BNP lawmakers refused to take the second, arguing that the constitution contains no provision for such a council.
The council was supposed to hold its first meeting within 30 days of the election results but has never been formed.
Instead, on April 29, the government proposed creating the special parliamentary committee, saying parliament was the only constitutional forum for amending the constitution.
For keeping five seats for the opposition against 12 for the ruling alliance, the treasury bench argued that the opposition holds only 26 percent of parliamentary seats.
