Constitution amendment committee's first meeting today

The first meeting of the Constitution amendment committee, formed as part of the national consensus and state reform initiatives, is scheduled to be held today, Tuesday. The meeting will begin at 12pm at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Committee President and Member of Parliament for Cox's Bazar-1 constituency Salahuddin Ahmed will preside over the meeting.

Parliament Secretariat sources said the first day's meeting may primarily be limited to introductions of the members and determining the discussion agenda for subsequent meetings. Effective discussions on amending the constitution are likely to begin from the second meeting.

Following the July 2024 uprising, discussions began among various political parties, civil society and experts regarding various provisions of the constitution, creating a balance of power, reducing the authority of the executive branch, reforming the electoral system, ensuring judicial independence, protecting fundamental rights and enhancing the effectiveness of constitutional institutions. In continuation of this, the current government formed this committee in the Jatiya Sangsad as part of its initiative to amend the constitution.

The process of forming this 17-member committee began on July 13. However, the opposition did not join the committee, demanding 'reform' instead of 'amendment' of the constitution. In this situation, an initial 12-member committee was formed with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed as its president, leaving the five seats reserved for the opposition vacant. The Parliament Secretariat has said the committee will be reconstituted to include the opposition if names are received from them later.

The other members of this 12-member committee, formed in the absence of the opposition, are: Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Barguna-2 constituency Mohammad Nurul Islam; Member of Parliament for Jhenaidah-1 constituency Mohammad Asaduzzaman; Member of Parliament for Barishal-3 constituency Zainul Abedin; Member of Parliament for Brahmanbaria-6 constituency Mohammad Zonaed Abdur Rahim Saki; Member of Parliament for Bhola-1 constituency Andalib Rahman Partha; Member of Parliament for Patuakhali-3 constituency Mohammad Nurul Haque; Member of Parliament for Chattogram-5 constituency Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin; Member of Parliament for Natore-1 constituency Farzana Sharmin; Member of Parliament for Reserved Women's Seat Shakila Farzana; Member of Parliament for Sherpur-3 constituency Mohammad Mahmudul Haque Rubel; and Member of Parliament for Barguna-1 constituency Mohammad Oliullah.