Dhaka: Opposition Leader and Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman today urged the government to immediately convene a session of the Constitution Reform Council, stating that the constitutional timeframe for its first sitting is being expired.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Shafiqur Rahman took the floor on a point of order in the House, highlighting that the current parliament was formed in the context of the July mass uprising and did not emerge through the usual constitutional process of parliamentary transition. He explained that the parliament was constituted through a Presidential Order issued on November 13, 2025, which contains 15 directives, most of which pertain to the July National Charter and the referendum on constitutional reforms.
Shafiqur Rahman referred to the provisions of the order, noting that directives three to fifteen specifically address the July Charter, the referendum process, and the formation of a Constitution Reform Council. He emphasized that directive 10 requires the first sitting of the Constitution Reform Council to be convened in the same manner as the first session of parliament and within 30 calendar days of the announcement of election results. Expressing concern, he pointed out that today marks the 30th calendar day, yet the council session has not been convened.
Citing Article 72 of the Constitution, he elaborated that the President convenes, prorogues, and dissolves parliament through official gazette notification and determines the time and place of the first meeting, usually acting on the advice of the Prime Minister. He inferred that the President likely convened this parliamentary session based on the Prime Minister’s written advice, but stressed that the order clearly requires the Constitution Reform Council to be convened similarly.
The opposition leader further recalled that the referendum on constitutional reforms was held alongside the parliamentary election as per the order, with nearly 70 percent of voters supporting the reform proposals. He stated that the order mandates the immediate formation of a Constitution Reform Council, comprising the same elected representatives of parliament, if there is a majority vote in favor of the reform proposals. However, he lamented that this has not yet occurred and the deadline ends today.
Shafiqur Rahman highlighted that the elected representatives are expected to serve in dual capacities-as members of parliament and as members of the Constitution Reform Council-under the order’s provisions. He noted that the council would have 180 working days from its first sitting to complete the constitutional reform process based on the July National Charter and the referendum results. He remarked that the process must commence before it can be completed.
The opposition leader added that 77 opposition members have already taken the oath as council members alongside their oath as members of parliament and have signed the relevant documents. He called on the concerned authorities to convene the first session of the Constitution Reform Council without further delay to implement the mandate expressed by the people through the referendum.