United News of Bangladesh

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday said the public mandate reflected in the referendum must be respected within the constitutional framework as the government will take the country forward following the Constitution in the days to come. “We’ve come this far by adhering to the Constitution and we will continue to follow it in the days ahead. We will move the country forward in a constitutional manner,” he told Parliament. The minister made the remarks after Opposition Leader Md Shafiqur Rahman expressed concern that the Constitution Reform Council has not yet been summoned despite provisions mentioned in the presidential order promulgated to implement the July National Charter. Salahuddin, also a member of BNP standing committee, said there is little scope to place a constitutional amendment bill in the current session as 133 ordinances, promulgated by the President during the interim government,  were placed in the House, which will have be to scrutinised and settled within 30 calendar days, not working days. If the business advisory committee decides such a bill can be placed during the upcoming budget session, he said.  “I am not denying anything. The public mandate must be respected, but it has to be done constitutionally and legally. There is no place for emotion here. A state does not run on emotion; it runs through the Constitution and laws,” he said. The BNP leader also proposed the opposition to pass a constitutional amendment bill through mutual understanding in Parliament to implement the July National Charter exactly as it was signed. “I would like to propose to the Leader of the Opposition that we can discuss in the Business Advisory Committee when we can place a bill to amend the Constitution,” he said, adding that his party remains committed to implementing the July National Charter exactly as it was signed as a political document. Salahuddin said a legal and also constitutional question has emerged here whether the Constitution can be amended by an order or invalid order imposed outside the framework of the July National Charter. He asked them to discuss this legal question in parliament and also in the Business Advisory Committee. “We can raise a bill for constitutional amendment and adopt it in this august House based on consensus. After that, the state will be run in accordance with the amended Constitution,” he said. The BNP leader said the constitution reform council could not be summoned as it has no existence in the Constitution. “According to Article 72 of the Constitution, there is no existence of constitution reform council, so the Prime Minister can’t recommend the President to do so (to summon the council). Since the President can’t summon it, he didn’t do it,” he said. ’Those who persecuted Hindus in 71 are back in elections': Salahuddin Ahmed Salahuddin further cited that Parliament may hold discussions on whether the July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order, 2025, issued by the President, is constitutionally valid. Referring to Article 93 of the Constitution, he said the President may promulgate ordinances when Parliament is not in session, but such ordinances cannot alter the Constitution. “Any change to the Constitution cannot come through an ordinance,” he said, raising questions about the legal nature of the presidential order. Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the Constitution Reform Council should have been convened within 30 calendar days of the parliamentary election results, as mentioned in the presidential order issued on November 13, 2025. “Today marks the 30th calendar day, but the council session has not been called yet,” he said, expressing concern over the delay. According to the order, he said, elected representatives of Parliament were also supposed to function as members of the Constitution Reform Council. Shafiqur Rahman said the issue deserves urgent attention to ensure that the verdict of the referendum and the commitments made in the July National Charter are properly implemented.