Jamaat declines deputy speaker offer, decision after July Charter discussion

Opposition party Jamaat-e-Islami has for now declined the ruling BNP’s proposal to take the post of Deputy Speaker in the 13th National Parliament, saying a final decision will come after discussions on the July Charter in parliament.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the opposition parliamentary committee at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday (March 11), Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said, "The party was not accepting the proposal at this stage."

“We are not accepting the government’s proposal for now. Our position on the Deputy Speaker post will be clarified after discussions on the July Charter in parliament,” he said.

Earlier on March 2, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the government was considering offering the Deputy Speaker position to the main opposition party as part of efforts to honour the July National Charter and build political consensus.

Meanwhile, Jamaat central executive member and Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir said in a social media post that the party would not accept the Deputy Speaker role merely as a symbolic or decorative position unless reform proposals outlined in the July Charter and referendum are implemented.

He also stressed the need for honest and competent leadership to address the country’s current challenges and maintain national unity.