1972 constitution belongs to nation, not Awami League: Hafiz Uddin

BNP Standing Committee member Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has said the 1972 Constitution is a reflection of the people’s hopes and aspirations born out of the Liberation War, not the property of any political party, including the Awami League.

He made the statement at a discussion at the National Press Club on Thursday (August 28) marking the 33rd founding anniversary of the Nationalist Freedom Fighters’ Party.

Hafiz Uddin stressed that the Constitution was formulated by elected representatives after independence and cannot be claimed as belonging to a single party.

He said political parties in power have repeatedly amended the Constitution, but warned that the July Charter recently circulated by the government cannot take precedence over it. “It is not possible to amend the Constitution through unelected persons. Fair elections under the interim government must be ensured, and only elected representatives can decide on the Constitution,” he added.

The BNP leader also criticized the Awami League’s role during the Liberation War, saying that it came to power with Indian support and that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman refrained from declaring independence before March 25, 1971. “The Liberation War was a people’s war, and the 1972 Constitution was the outcome of that struggle. It belongs to the nation, not to the Awami League,” he said.