Government and opposition can work together to amend the constitution: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that the government and the opposition can work together within the parliament to amend the constitution, taking the July Charter as a guideline.

Participating in the discussion on the proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year in the National Parliament, he said that it is possible to move the country forward by building public opinion on nationally important issues outside the parliament and adopting reform-oriented programs on Monday.

Agreeing with the statement of the opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman, the Prime Minister admitted that there may be differences between them.

“But we will remain united on the issue of reviving the economy to alleviate the suffering of the people, restoring discipline and confidence in the financial sector, creating opportunities for farmers, workers, youth and expatriate entrepreneurs, and strengthening democratic institutions,” he said.

The Prime Minister also said, "Let us pledge today that fascism or dictatorship will never be allowed to take root in Bangladesh again and that no one will ever be able to turn this country into a paramilitary state."

Assuring the citizens, Tarique Rahman said, "This government and parliament belong to the people."

His statement came at a time when Jamaat has not yet officially responded to the nomination of opposition party representatives to the parliamentary committee to be formed to amend the constitution as proposed by the government party.

Earlier, on June 16, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman had said in a press conference that the opposition party would not provide representatives to the government's proposed constitution amendment committee. He emphasized, "We want not just amendments, but constitutional reform."

The Prime Minister said that he dreams of a Bangladesh where development is fair, the economy is inclusive, the state is accountable and the lives of citizens are safe, dignified and promising.

He said, "The real strength of a state is not in its wealth; Rather, good governance, justice, accountability and people's trust lie in it. For sustainable development, it is important to ensure good governance in all areas of administration, not just economic reforms.'

People now want a state built on the basis of justice, transparency and accountability, commented Tarique Rahman.

'It is the responsibility of every member of parliament, not just the current government, to fulfill this expectation. We have to work together from our respective positions to implement it,' he said.

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of democracy, rule of law and human rights, emphasizing an independent judiciary and delivering justice to the doorsteps of the people.

He mentioned that this government has further expanded the legal aid program launched by former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. He added that the allocation for the judiciary has been increased in the current fiscal year's budget, and he urged the Finance Minister to allocate an additional Tk 100 crore for the Supreme Court and Tk 500 crore for the Law Ministry to address the crisis of judges' housing, research activities and court buildings.

The Prime Minister said, "To serve the people in a democratic system, the administration must be made more efficient. In addition to making the administration accountable, we must create opportunities for their full participation in state-building by ensuring a fair salary structure, training and a working environment free from unnecessary political interference."

He said that the government is determined to eliminate corruption, irregularities and maladministration that have crippled the economy for a long time, "We are committed to overcoming these challenges and are making that promise to the people of the country."