I know pain of disappearances, will not fail martyrs: Home minister

Home Minister Salauddin Ahmed, drawing from his personal experience, expressed his understanding of the pain caused by enforced disappearances and exile. He vowed in parliament to ensure that the sacrifices of martyrs are not in vain, while also advocating for a just and discrimination-free state.

Speaking on the thanksgiving motion on the president's speech yesterday, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed in the chair, he recalled his 19-year political struggle, including over nine years in exile and time in foreign prisons. He said families of the disappeared still wait for their loved ones, and such suffering must end.

Referring to leaders like Ilias Ali, he said children still wait for missing fathers. "To honour their tears, we must build a state where no one disappears and no rights are denied," he said, urging unity to realise a just political order by 2026.

He stressed finalising the state definition of freedom fighters, saying those who fought Pakistani forces and their local collaborators in 1971 are recognised by law. Repeated debates on this issue are not honourable, he said.

On recent politics, he said the 2024 and 2026 student uprisings were outcomes of a long democratic struggle. Citing international observers and European Union reports, he said the elections were recognised globally without evidence of engineering. Undermining this victory, he added, dishonours martyrs.

Responding to debates on constitutional reform and the July national charter, he said BNP has not deviated from the charter and remains committed to people's sovereignty. Major constitutional changes cannot be made through ordinances and require a public mandate, he said, reiterating BNP's call for a referendum.

He termed the process of forming a "constitutional reform council' bypassing the July charter as "fraudulent" and questioned its legal basis. Attempts to reform the constitution outside parliament contradict the legal framework, he said, as such actions undermine the democratic process and the need for public approval through a referendum.

He said BNP secured 51% of the votes and 214 seats, reflecting the public mandate to implement its pledges. A two-thirds majority is crucial for key reforms, he added.

Addressing the opposition, he said no names were given for the constitutional reform committee, yet discussions on a reform council continue outside. He questioned the legal basis of a blue-paper oath form without a 19 January 2026 referendum, calling it a clear violation of Article 148 and alleging repeated constitutional breaches.

He also alleged constitutional violations in reform moves, citing Article 148, and called for parliamentary engagement. He stressed the need to amend remaining controversial provisions, including those from the 15th Amendment, and urged responsible use of freedom of speech, warning against its misuse on social media.