United News of Bangladesh

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday said the Constitution of Bangladesh does not recognise anything named a ‘Reform Council’, noting that such a council could only be established after a constitutional amendment.  “The honourable President has convened a session of the National Parliament, not a session of any ‘Reform Council,” he told reporters before joining the adjourned sitting of the Jatiya Sangsad. Referring to the proposal mentioned in the July National Charter, Salahuddin said that if a constitutional reform council is to be implemented under that framework, the Constitution must first be amended. He also noted that the legality of the proposed council has already been challenged in court. “The Constitutional validity of the council mentioned under the July National Charter has been challenged, and the court has issued a rule in this regard. The matter is now under judicial consideration,” he said. The Minister said that if such a council is to be formed based on the outcome of a referendum, the Constitution must first be amended through discussion. Fuel rationing withdrawn, normal supply resumes at filling stations “Only after the Constitution is amended and the provision incorporated can steps be taken to form the council and arrange the oath-taking, if necessary,” he added. Responding to another question regarding the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the Home Minister said both still hold their primary membership in their respective political parties. “They have not resigned from their parties. Therefore, Article 70 of the Constitution does not apply here,” he said, adding that the provision becomes applicable only when a member resigns from their party.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday called for making the 13th National Parliament meaningful, effective and vibrant through debates and constructive discussions. “This is the Parliament of the people of Bangladesh… independence and democracy-loving citizens of the country are looking to this Parliament with hope and expectation,” he said in his brief address after the election of the new Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. Congratulating the new Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, Tarique said the duo no longer belongs to any party and all elected members will be treated equally by them from now on. “You are the guardians of this Parliament.” “In the interest of the people, we want to make this Parliament meaningful. We should not oppose anything for the sake of opposition. Rather, through reasoned discussion and debate, we want to make this House vibrant and effective,” he said. The Prime Minister said the Speaker and Deputy Speaker have a greater role and assured them of highest cooperation from the treasury bench in running the parliament. He said that for more than one and a half decades the democratic and political rights of people had been taken away. “The people were made weak and powerless community, and parliament was turned into a club of those who deprived citizens of their rights,” Tarique said. The Prime Minister said those who identified themselves as MPs over the past one and a half decades had not been elected by the people’s vote. “But today’s parliament consists of representatives elected directly by people’s vote.” At the end of his speech, the Prime Minister once again extended greetings, congratulations and thanks to the Speaker on behalf of the members of parliament for taking on the new responsibility. Earlier, senior BNP parliamentarian Major (Retd.) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed and Barrister Kayser Kamal were unanimously elected as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament on Thursday. At the outset of the maiden session of the newly formed Parliament, MPs first elected Hafiz Uddin, a six-time parliamentarian and Liberation War Affairs Minister in the new cabinet, as the Speaker of the 13th Parliament, followed by first-time MP Kayser Kamal as Deputy Speaker. Following their elections, the first sitting of the session went into a 30-minute break to allow the newly elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker to take their oaths, which were administered by President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Earlier at 11:05am, the maiden session of the 13th Parliament started with the Speaker’s chair vacant, as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 12th Parliament are currently unavailable.