Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Asaduzzaman on Wednesday sought five names from the opposition bench in parliament to form a 17-member parliamentary special committee on constitutional amendment.
In response, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman said they have a conceptual difference over the formation of the committee but they would inform their decision following internal discussion.
Taking floor in the House, the law minister said they want to form a parliamentary special committee which is related to the constitutional amendment.
“The committee will be formed under Rule 266 (of the Rules of Procedure). We’ve finalised a list of 12 names,” he said.
Among the 12 proposed members, he said seven MPs from BNP are in the list, and five others from Ganaodhikar Parishad, Ganasomhati Andolan, Bangladesh Jatiya Party and independent lawmakers, he said.
Citing that the opposition holds around 26 percent representation in Parliament, he said considering that proportion, the government expects five names from the opposition for the special committee.
The minister said the government wants to constitute the committee quickly so it can proceed with constitutional amendment initiatives keeping the July Charter in focus.
“If you give the five names soon, we will be able to place the proposal for the committee tomorrow,” he said.
Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman said, “We demanded reform (of the constitution), but it is now for amendment…Still our position remains the same,” he said, adding that they heard the proposal placed by the minister, but would convey their decision later.
Later, the law minister said they don’t have any problem in waiting. “If we need to wait in order to move forward on the path of constitutional amendment in light of the July Charter, we are even ready to wait until the next parliamentary session,” he said.
