Citizens opinion will be taken on Constitutional amendment: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that before amending the constitution, discussions will be held with people from various classes and professions, constitutional and legal experts, judges and former judges, academics, social organizations and personalities associated with the July mass uprising, and family members of those who were victims of enforced disappearance and murder over the past 17 years.

He said these things to journalists today, Tuesday, after the fourth meeting of the Constitutional Amendment Committee.

The Home Minister said, "We received many valuable opinions at the meeting. Among them are quite a few notable opinions that we can consider. These will be discussed at the committee meeting. After the written statements are submitted, we will sit together with them."

He said, "We will sit with people from various classes and professions, constitutional experts, legal experts, judges, former judges, academics, various social organizations and personalities associated with the July mass uprising, the families of those who were martyred, and the families of those who were victims of enforced disappearance and murder over the past 17 years."

Explaining the constitutional amendment process, he said, "We will try to get a picture from the people of all classes and professions and representatives by speaking with them. After that, a report will be prepared with the advice of constitutional experts. After it is placed in Parliament, the amendment bill will be discussed in the National Parliament. At that time, opinions will again be formed inside and outside Parliament. In this way, I believe we will be able to adopt an acceptable amendment based on consensus and understanding."

Calling on the opposition parties to participate in the Constitutional Amendment Committee's activities, Salahuddin Ahmed said, "Our door for discussion with the opposition parties is open. We call on them to participate in the Constitutional Amendment Committee. Because we want to amend the constitution by discussing with everyone."

Regarding a bicameral parliament, he said, "A proposal has come that Bangladesh needs a bicameral parliament. Since this is a unitary state and our constitution states that there is no provision for constituent states here, a proposal has also come as to whether the matter can be reconsidered in that light."

He further said, "Since we have agreed in the July National Charter on forming a bicameral parliament, we want to move forward on that basis. However, if we consider the proposal they have given—government party and opposition party in Parliament—then the matter will be looked into."

The Home Minister also said that more discussion and proposals are needed on the process and method of forming a caretaker government. He said, "We need open discussion and proposals regarding the process, method, and form of forming a caretaker government. Whatever is considered fair and acceptable, we will adopt. We have not yet been able to decide by what process and with whom this caretaker government will be formed."

The Home Minister said, "Some proposals are in the July National Charter. In some places there are notes of dissent. We have said, let us leave the matter to Parliament. Parliament will decide which processes will be followed to move these steps forward. We have called on everyone to discuss this proposal."