Opposition alliance walks out of parliament over reform process, bills
The opposition alliance protested the government’s handling of constitutional reforms, the delayed implementation of the referendum verdict and formation of a special committee.
The 11-party opposition alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), walked out of parliament at 8:07pm yesterday (27 August), protesting the constitutional reform process, formation of a special committee, delayed implementation of the referendum verdict and tabling government bills on a day reserved for private members.
Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman said the government was unilaterally proceeding with parliamentary business despite public-interest issues. He said the opposition supported constitutional reform and implementation of the referendum verdict, but accused the government of delaying the July National Charter.
He also questioned whether the special committee was formed according to parliamentary rules and raised four notices seeking debate on public issues.
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Deputy Speaker Barrister Kaiser Kamal urged the opposition to stay and participate in debates, saying parliamentary democracy depends on government-opposition discussion.
After the walkout, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman tabled the Transfer of Property (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2026, followed by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed's Prevention and Remedy of Enforced Disappearance Bill, 2026. The bills were sent to the relevant standing committees for reports within two working days.
Home minister rejects opposition's grounds
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed called the walkout "planned", saying the opposition used bill tabling as a pretext to avoid legislation.
He said the opposition had demanded the National Human Rights Commission and enforced disappearance laws since the first session, and the bills were prepared after consultations and circulated among MPs for committee scrutiny.
"Walking out of parliament over trivial excuses will ultimately harm democracy," he said, urging the opposition to raise specific law-and-order complaints.
Salahuddin said the Constitution has no provision for a "Constitution Reform Council" and that the special committee was formed under parliamentary rules to consider constitutional amendments. He urged the opposition to return and resolve issues through parliamentary debate.
