11-party opposition alliance makes 6 demands, rejecting special committee on constitutional amendment
11 Party Opposition Alliance Makes 6 Demands on Reform
Bdbusinessdaily.com – The 11 party opposition alliance makes 6 demands over the implementation of constitutional reforms approved through a referendum. Led by Jamaat-e-Islami, the alliance rejected using a parliamentary special committee for fundamental constitutional amendments and instead called for the Constitutional Reform Council to carry out the process.
The alliance announced its position at a press conference at the National Press Club on 20 September. Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said the referendum outcome should guide the next phase of reforms connected to the July National Charter.
Alliance calls for referendum mandate to be honoured
According to Porwar, 70% of voters participated in the referendum, while nearly 69% supported constitutional reforms based on the July National Charter. He said the public verdict must be respected by political parties and state institutions.
“Through the participation of 70% of voters in the referendum, the BNP's note of dissent in the July National Charter was rejected. It is the responsibility of state institutions to respect the verdict given by the people in the referendum.”
The alliance argued that reforms endorsed by voters should not be delayed or replaced by an alternative political process. Its leaders said constitutional changes approved through the referendum must be implemented properly and in a way that reflects public expectations.
Porwar also described the referendum as an expression of the people’s sovereign and constituent power. In the alliance’s view, the result should provide the legal and political basis for carrying forward the reform programme.
What are the six demands?
As the 11 party opposition alliance makes 6 demands, its first call is for the full implementation of the referendum verdict. The group said the vote should lead to practical constitutional and state reforms rather than remain a symbolic exercise.
Second, the alliance demanded the implementation of constitutional reforms contained in the July National Charter that received approval in the referendum. It said the charter should remain the framework for the reform process.
Third, the group opposed efforts to introduce fundamental constitutional changes through a parliamentary special committee. It argued that this route could bypass the process approved by voters.
Fourth, the alliance called for the Constitutional Reform Council to become operational. It said the required procedure should be completed so elected representatives can take their seats on the council.
Its fifth demand was that no unilateral action be taken on matters involving the Constitution’s basic structure. The alliance said such changes should not be made without public consent and adherence to the referendum mandate.
Finally, the alliance called for constitutional and state reforms to proceed in line with public expectations, the referendum result and political consensus. It said a reform process should reflect both the people’s decision and broad agreement among political forces.
Why the alliance rejects a special committee
The central disagreement concerns the authority of the proposed institutions. The alliance says a parliamentary special committee and the Constitutional Reform Council may involve some of the same elected representatives, but they are not legally identical bodies.
“We do not consider acceptable any initiative to create an alternative to the reform process approved in the referendum through a parliamentary special committee. The same individuals may be members of parliament and members of the Reform Council, but the legal identity, source of authority and scope of work of the two institutions are not the same.”
The alliance maintains that the Constitutional Reform Council has a distinct mandate linked to the referendum. For that reason, it believes the council, rather than a parliamentary committee, should oversee reforms involving major constitutional questions.
By making this argument, the 11 party opposition alliance makes 6 demands that place public approval at the centre of the constitutional reform debate. The group says any process that ignores or weakens the referendum outcome would be unacceptable.
FAQ: Constitutional reform debate in Bangladesh
What is the alliance demanding? The alliance is seeking implementation of referendum-backed reforms, activation of the Constitutional Reform Council, and an end to attempts to pursue fundamental changes through a parliamentary special committee.
Why does the alliance support the Constitutional Reform Council? It says the council has a different legal identity, source of authority and scope of work from a parliamentary special committee, particularly because the council is tied to the referendum-backed reform process.
What role does the July National Charter play? The alliance considers the charter the basis for constitutional reforms that voters approved in the referendum and wants those measures implemented through the prescribed institutional process.