Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that discussions on the proposed Constitutional Reform Council may take place on the floor of the Jatiya Sangsad during the ongoing parliamentary session.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee at the parliament building on Saturday.
Responding to questions about the Constitutional Reform Council, the minister said the issue could be debated in parliament rather than in the advisory committee.
“The discussion can take place on the floor of the House, not here,” he said.
Asked about the threat by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami to launch street protests if the issue is not addressed, the minister briefly replied that he would speak to them about the matter.
Parliamentary schedule fixed
Salahuddin Ahmed said Saturday’s meeting was the first sitting of the advisory committee of the newly formed parliament.
The meeting finalised the duration of the maiden session, legislative priorities, and the time allocation for debate on the President’s address.
According to the plan, parliament will resume its sitting on March 15 at 11am, after which it will remain adjourned from March 16 to March 28. The session will reconvene on March 29 and continue throughout April.
Ordinances to go before special committee
The home minister also said that a special parliamentary committee was formed last Thursday to examine the ordinances issued during the tenure of the interim government.
He said such committees are traditionally formed before ministry-related standing committees become functional.
According to the plan, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman will place the ordinances before parliament, after which they will be sent to the special committee for scrutiny. The committee will later submit a report to the House.
“It is possible that the process will move forward within this session,” he said.
Opposition seeks reform debate
Speaking on the issue, opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam said the opposition would present its position during the debate on the President’s address.
He also explained the opposition’s earlier walkout during the President’s speech, saying they believed it was inappropriate to remain in the chamber at that time.
“We will not offer thanks for the speech, but we will place our statement,” he said.
On constitutional reform, Nahid Islam said the opposition leader would raise the issue of the Constitutional Reform Council in parliament at the appropriate time.
He added that since the referendum verdict supported reform proposals, the government should have convened a constitutional reform session alongside the parliamentary session.
“We want this parliament to transform into the Constitutional Reform Council as soon as possible,” he said, adding that the opposition will decide its next course of action based on the government’s position on the matter.