Dhaka: Home Minister and BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed today emphasized the importance of governing the country strictly in accordance with the Constitution while maintaining a commitment to the historic July National Charter. “The state can’t be run on emotions; it runs through the Constitution, laws, and established rules,” he stated, following remarks from Leader of the Opposition in parliament and Ameer of Bangladesh Jammat-e-Islami Dr. Shafiqur Rahman regarding constitutional and legislative reforms aligned with the “July National Charter.”
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Home Minister, while speaking in the House, underscored that the Constitution is the supreme document of the state, and all state affairs must be conducted based on constitutional and legal frameworks. He asserted that even the implementation of the July National Charter must occur through constitutional and legal procedures. He further noted that the Rules of Procedure have already provided specific provisions for raising urgent matters of public interest.
Emphasizing constitutional provisions, the Home Minister articulated that the President may promulgate an ordinance only when Parliament is not in session, as stipulated in Article 93 of the Constitution. However, he stressed that the Constitution itself cannot be amended through an ordinance. Ahmed described the July National Charter as a historic political document of consensus and mentioned that a referendum had been held to gather public opinion on the matter. He acknowledged that if constitutional amendments are required to implement the charter, those changes must be enacted through Parliament.
Furthermore, he highlighted that all 133 ordinances promulgated during the Interim Government have already been placed before the Parliament, and decisions regarding them must occur within the stipulated timeframe. In this regard, he proposed that the Business Advisory Committee of parliament discuss and determine when a constitutional amendment bill could be placed before the House. “We respect every word of the July National Charter and remain committed to fulfilling the pledge made to the nation,” the Home Minister affirmed.
Salahuddin Ahmed also addressed the legal and constitutional question of whether the Constitution can be amended through any imposed order outside the constitutional framework. He expressed hope that necessary constitutional amendments, if made through parliamentary discussion and consensus, would further strengthen the country’s governance system. Concluding his remarks, Salahuddin Ahmed stated, “We have moved forward by following the Constitution, and in the future as well, the state will continue to be governed in accordance with the Constitution.”