Opposition walks out of parliament over July Charter order, 'misquotation' row

Opposition lawmakers staged a walkout from the parliamentary session today (1 April), alleging a lack in the implementation of the July National Charter and constitutional reform order.

They also protested what they described as a misquotation of the opposition leader by the law minister, which further fueled tensions in the House.

Following the question-and-answer session in parliament today, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman stated that the agenda they presented yesterday primarily concerned the referendum and the convening of the council that was supposed to be formed in light of the reform proposals passed in that referendum.

Reiterating the proposal raised yesterday by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur said that since the discussion centred on the reform council, they would consider it positively if a special committee were formed regarding this matter. 

He added that the committee would be meaningful if it included an equal number of members from both the government and the opposition.

Addressing the speaker, Shafiqur said, "Since this is a matter of public aspiration, we expected a remedy through you. I had called upon you for a decision. However, I could not understand whether any decision was made or not. I want to know this clearly from you."

In response, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed stated that in the 53-year parliamentary history of Bangladesh, only three adjournment motions have been accepted. 

He noted that years go by without a single adjournment motion being accepted in parliament; nonetheless, to facilitate a vibrant discussion, the adjournment motion was accepted under the chairmanship of the deputy speaker.

The speaker further mentioned that a matter which can only be resolved through legislation cannot be the subject of an adjournment motion. Despite this, he said, it was accepted in a spirit of transparency to give the opposition an opportunity to speak.

Reacting to the issue, the opposition leader said, "We sought a remedy. This issue is not affiliated with any specific party. This is a matter upon which the government and the opposition all agreed and campaigned for before the election. 

"Since we received no resolution, the verdict of the countrymen was not honoured. Sitting in the opposition, we cannot accept this devaluation; therefore, we are walking out in protest."

Per the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order-2025, a two-hour discussion was held in Parliament yesterday as the final item of the day regarding the adjournment motion moved by the opposition leader concerning the convening of the constitutional reform council session