United News of Bangladesh

Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni on Wednesday said a special parliamentary committee will soon be formed to facilitate constitutional amendments. "A committee will be formed to amend  the constitution. We intend to include representatives from all political parties on a proportional basis as well as independent lawmakers. We want to initiate this committee very soon, possibly by next Sunday, taking everyone's opinions into account," he said. The Chief Whip said while the exact number is yet to be finalised the committee is expected to consist of 15, 18, or 20 members. "This is a unique situation. We want to include legal experts from both the treasury and opposition benches. If a party lacks legal experts, we will still include their representatives. Our goal is to bring the constitution to a stage where frequent changes are no longer necessary," he added. Responding to concerns that the opposition might boycott such a committee, Moni said their cooperation is essential for the nation's progress. "Their stance would not be correct. Sooner or later, we must amend the constitution. We want them in the committee. Just as you cannot shake hands with one hand or cut hair with only one blade of a pair of scissors, we need both sides. We hope they will join us for the final process," he added. The Chief Whip emphasised that constitutional reform is a necessity under the "July Charter," referring to the principles established following the 2024 uprising. "We have no other way but to amend the constitution. This is for the country. It is not about personal benefits for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman or myself. This is for the welfare of people, and there should be no room for disagreement on that," he said, asserting the government’s commitment to making the parliament effective in solving national issues. Parliamentary Infrastructure Upgrades In a separate development, the Parliament Secretariat issued a press release outlining recommendations from the meeting to modernise the session hall. The committee recommended the installation of an echo-free sound system capable of absorbing noise within one second or less. Additionally, recommendations were made to address slow internet speeds within the session hall and to ensure a steady supply of potable water in the parliament area. The meeting, chaired by Moni, was attended by committee members including Mia Noureddin Ahmed Apu, Mohammad Koysar Ahmed, Md. Shahidul Islam, Nayab Yusuf Ahmed, SM Jahangir Hossain, Oli Ullah, Saiful Alam Milan, and Abul Hasnat.

Professor Ali Riaz, special assistant to the Chief Adviser, has said establishing an upper house in the bicameral legislature is aimed at preventing the concentration of power in a single individual in the future. Speaking at a discussion session held on Monday at Dr Kaiser Rahman Chowdhury Auditorium of Rajshahi Medical College to promote the upcoming referendum and encourage voter participation, Prof Riaz said Bangladesh’s current system has repeatedly allowed one person to accumulate power by exploiting institutional weaknesses. “We must address this issue institutionally rather than rely on any single individual,” he said, adding that the July charter proposes the creation of an upper house in parliament, which would ensure representation of the people and all political parties, as well as reflect broad consensus in constitutional amendments. Prof Riaz emphasised the vision of a state upholding equality, human dignity, and justice, noting that institutional decay over the past 54 years has repeatedly allowed personal or party interests to undermine governance. Read more: Prof Yunus orders strict measures to prevent possible election fraud He praised the role of the youth in creating opportunities through the 2024 popular uprising to prevent the rise of fascism in the future. Monir Haider stressed that public approval of the July charter through the upcoming referendum is essential to safeguard the future of the next generation and warned that failure to pass the referendum could lead to a return of authoritarianism. He assured officials that campaigning for ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ votes would face no restrictions, highlighting that the referendum is a collective agenda rather than a candidate election. The session, chaired by Divisional Commissioner Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid, was attended by special assistant (consensus) Monir Haider, Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr SM Abdur Razzak, Rajshahi Range Police DIG Mohammad Shahjahan, and Rajshahi Police Commissioner Dr Mohammad Zillur Rahman. Read more: Prof Yunus to focus on digital health, youth entrepreneurs, ‘Three Zeros’ Deputy Commissioners, police superintendents, other government officials, local journalists and civil society members from across Rajshahi division also participated. Divisional Commissioner Dr Bazlur Rashid highlighted initiatives at divisional, district, and sub-district levels to raise awareness about the referendum and urged all officials to fulfill their responsibilities at this critical juncture.

Russia on Thursday opened polls for a week-long vote on constitutional changes that would allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036.