Constitution amendment bill in January, referendum if passed
The phrase "Absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah" will be restored to the Constitution, says the home minister.
Highlights:
- Amendment bill likely in January
- Referendum to follow if passed
- Committee report expected by December
- 'Trust and faith in Allah' may return to Constitution
- Caretaker government provisions may require referendum
- Opposition parties invited to join amendment process
A bill to amend the Constitution may be placed in the first session of Parliament next January, said Home Minister and convenor of the special committee on constitutional reform Salahuddin Ahmed.
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He also said several provisions, including the preamble to the Constitution, would be amended. In such cases, a referendum would be constitutionally required before the president can give his assent.
He made the remarks while briefing reporters after the third meeting of the special committee on constitutional reform at the media centre of the Jatiya Sangsad today (27 September). The committee held an exchange of views with editors of national dailies and senior journalists on the day.
Referendum may be required for certain amendments
Regarding a referendum, Salahuddin Ahmed said Article 142 of the Constitution has been revived following the Supreme Court's annulment of the 15th Amendment after the 5 August student-led mass uprising.
He said changes could be made to provisions including the preamble and Articles 8, 48, 56 and 142.
"If changes are made in these areas, the people must vote in a referendum before the president signs the amendments. The constitutional referendum will be held after the bill is passed," he said.
On a proposal to protect the caretaker government system through a referendum, he said the BNP had submitted such a proposal.
"The proposal is to introduce a provision requiring a referendum to amend the relevant articles so that no future Parliament can easily abolish the caretaker government system for which they fought for 17 years," he said.
'Full faith and trust in Almighty Allah' to return
On priorities for constitutional amendments, the home minister said the July National Charter would be the government's priority.
"However, we will also incorporate issues for which we have received a mandate through the election manifesto," he said.
"We will restore 'full faith and trust in Almighty Allah' in the Constitution, which Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had incorporated into the preamble and Article 8 as one of the fundamental principles of state policy. This is a commitment in our manifesto," he said.
Amendment bill may be placed in January
Regarding the timeline for the constitutional amendment process, the committee convenor said strong efforts were underway to place the committee's report before Parliament by December.
"Based on that report, the Law Ministry will prepare a bill. We hope the bill may be placed in the January session, the first session of the year. After discussion and amendments, if the bill is passed, it will be finalised through a referendum," he said.
The home minister once again formally urged opposition parties, through the media and editors, to participate in the constitutional amendment process.
Editors, senior journalists exchange views with committee
The special committee on constitutional reform has said that if any fundamental amendments are made to the Constitution, they will be finalised through a referendum.
The committee conveyed this during an exchange of views with media editors and journalists' leaders at Parliament on Sunday.
The meeting was held at 2:30pm in the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad. It was the third meeting of the special committee held to seek the views of media personalities on constitutional amendments. Editors from various media outlets and leaders of journalists' organisations attended the nearly two-hour meeting.
The media representatives present at the meeting sought to know the government's current position and plans regarding constitutional amendments.
After the meeting, Daily Desh Rupantor Editor Mustafiz Shafi spoke to reporters.
He said a referendum is required for certain fundamental changes to the Constitution. The special committee had informed them that a referendum would be held if such fundamental changes were made, he said.
The meeting also discussed ensuring a balance of powers between the president and the prime minister, maintaining complete neutrality in government appointments, and restoring the abolished caretaker government system, Mustafiz Shafi said.
On 13 July, a 12-member special committee on constitutional amendments was formed with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed as its chairman.
The original proposal called for five representatives from the opposition to be included, but the opposition did not nominate anyone. The 12-member committee was subsequently formed without them.
The committee is currently holding consultations with political parties and other stakeholders.
Following its meeting on 20 September, committee chairman Salahuddin Ahmed said the committee wanted to complete consultations with stakeholders by December before proceeding with the constitutional amendment process.
