Dhaka: Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday reiterated the government's commitment to implementing the July National Charter 2025 word for word, amidst political tensions and accusations of misinformation. He emphasized that some political parties are spreading false claims that the BNP, holding a majority in Parliament, does not intend to implement the charter.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Salahuddin addressed reporters after leading the second meeting of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. He called for cooperation from all involved parties during the discussions, underscoring the government's intention to amend the Constitution in accordance with the charter signed by various political parties.
The meeting saw participation from 15 of the 26 political parties invited, with one party submitting proposals in writing. However, notable absentees included the main opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party-NCP, who boycotted the meeting. The Jamaat-led 11-party alliance publicly rejected the parliamentary committee's initiative, advocating instead for constitutional reforms aligned with the July National Charter and the February-12 referendum's public verdict.
Salahuddin highlighted the government's pledge to uphold the charter's terms and incorporate additional commitments from the BNP's election manifesto into the upcoming 18th constitutional amendment. The special committee plans to engage with a broad spectrum of societal and professional stakeholders, including political parties and constitutional experts, to expedite the process.
Addressing dissent within the July National Charter, Salahuddin acknowledged differences, particularly regarding the proposed formation of a 100-member upper house. While consensus exists on its formation, debates continue over its composition, with varying proposals on representation methods.
The committee has begun drafting its report, incorporating feedback from diverse quarters. Once finalized, the report will be submitted to Parliament, paving the way for the Ministry of Law to prepare the related bill for parliamentary consideration.
Amidst this backdrop, Salahuddin clarified that the Rastro Songskar Andolan had participated in the meeting before withdrawing, while the Amar Bangladesh Party-AB Party contributed their input in writing.