Opposition demands 50-hour discussion on president’s speech: Home minister

Opposition parties have demanded a 50-hour discussion on the president’s address in parliament despite boycotting the speech and walking out of the chamber, Home Minister Salah Uddin Ahmed said.

Speaking during an unscheduled discussion in the Jatiya Sangsad on Sunday (March 15), the minister said President Mohammed Shahabuddin delivered his speech in accordance with Article 73 of the constitution.

“Our opposition colleagues did not want to hear the president’s address and left the chamber. Yet they have proposed allocating 50 hours for discussion on the same speech,” he said, adding that time would be distributed proportionately among parties if such a debate is held.

Ahmed also raised legal concerns over the so-called “imposed order” related to the implementation of the July National Charter and constitutional reform. He said Article 93 of the constitution does not allow any amendment or change to the constitution through a presidential ordinance.

His remarks came in response to comments made by opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman in parliament regarding the implementation of the “July Charter”.

The home minister said the government remains committed to implementing the historic July National Charter but stressed that it must be done through constitutional and legal procedures rather than through any imposed order.

He noted that the “July National Charter Constitutional Reform Implementation Order 2025,” issued on November 13 last year, is neither a law nor an ordinance, making the swearing-in of members of the proposed constitutional reform council and demands for a parliamentary session under that order unconstitutional.

Regarding the referendum on the issue, Ahmed said the government respects the public mandate but questioned the structure of the vote. According to him, four separate questions were included in the referendum but voters were given only a single “yes” or “no” option, which he described as illogical.

He added that implementing the referendum outcome would first require amendments to the constitution. Only after such changes could the reform council take oath and proceed with its activities.

The minister also expressed doubts about introducing a constitutional amendment bill in the current parliamentary session, noting that 133 ordinances were tabled on the first day and must be settled within 30 days. With a long recess ahead, he said, the bill could instead be introduced in the upcoming budget session if the parliamentary advisory committee agrees.

Concluding his remarks, Ahmed invited the opposition leader to discuss the matter in the advisory committee, saying the government remains committed to honouring every word of the July National Charter as a political consensus document.