Dhaka: Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Asaduzzaman announced that a parliamentary special committee has been formed to amend the Constitution based on the July Charter. The committee will seek input from various stakeholders, including family members of the July martyrs, participants in the Anti-Discrimination Movement, journalists, lawyers, retired judges, and the general public. This announcement was made during a press briefing after the committee's first meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the special committee, constituted by the Jatiya Sangsad under the Prime Minister's directive, aims to align the Constitution with the proposals outlined in the July Charter 2025. The committee has been tasked with ensuring the implementation of these proposals within a constitutional and legal framework, consulting those who contributed to the charter's formulation.
Md. Asaduzzaman mentioned an initial plan to form a 17-member committee, including seven BNP lawmakers, members from various political parties, an independent member, and five opposition members. However, the opposition has not yet submitted member names. The minister emphasized that the committee remains open to their inclusion and to receiving constructive criticism and suggestions from all political factions.
The law minister clarified that the proposals from Articles 1 to 47 of the July Charter would not be directly included in the draft amendments. Instead, they will be adapted to fit constitutional and legal language. He also addressed proposals for a bicameral parliament and electoral system changes, noting that these, too, would be considered in line with each political party's election manifesto and the July Charter's directives.
The reform process will involve reviewing the entire Constitution to ensure coherence among its provisions, incorporating established principles of constitutional jurisprudence like India's Basic Structure Doctrine. The constitutional amendment is intended to address long-term needs rather than short-term goals, with a focus on future generations' requirements.
The law minister highlighted that constitutional amendments are a standard process, citing over a hundred amendments to India's Constitution since 1950 and several amendments to the US Constitution. The committee's first meeting, chaired by Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, included Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman, and other notable figures.