Shafiqur urges immediate session of Constitution Reform Council

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday called on the government to promptly convene the first meeting of the Constitution Reform Council, warning that the constitutional deadline for holding its inaugural session is about to expire.

Speaking on a point of order in the Jatiya Sangsad, Shafiqur Rahman said the current parliament had been formed in the aftermath of the July mass uprising and was established through a presidential order rather than the usual constitutional process of parliamentary transition.

According to him, the Parliament was constituted through a Presidential Order issued on 13 November 2025, which contained 15 directives, many of which were linked to the July National Charter and the proposed constitutional reform process.

The opposition leader explained that directives three through fifteen of the order addresses issues such as the July Charter, the referendum on constitutional reforms, and the formation of a Constitution Reform Council.

Referring to directive 10 of the order, Shafiqur Rahman said the first meeting of the council was supposed to be convened within 30 calendar days of the announcement of the election results, following the same procedure used for the first sitting of Parliament.

“Today marks the 30th day, yet the council’s session has not been called,” he said, expressing concern about the delay.

Citing Article 72 of the Constitution, he noted that the President is responsible for convening and proroguing parliament through a gazette notification and determines the date and venue of its sessions, generally acting on the advice of the Prime Minister.

“We assume the President convened the parliamentary session on the advice of the Prime Minister. In the same way, the Constitution Reform Council should also be convened,” he said.

Shafiqur Rahman also recalled that a referendum on constitutional reforms had been held alongside the general election, as outlined in the presidential order.

According to him, nearly 70 per cent of voters supported the reform proposals.

He said the order further stipulates that if the reform proposals receive majority support, a Constitution Reform Council composed of the same elected members of parliament should be formed immediately after the election.

“Unfortunately, this has not happened yet, and the deadline expires today,” he said.

The opposition leader added that elected representatives are expected to serve in two roles - both as members of parliament and as members of the reform council - as stipulated in the order.

He also noted that once the council begins its work, it will have 180 working days from its first session to complete the constitutional reform process in line with the July National Charter and the referendum results.

Shafiqur Rahman said 77 opposition lawmakers have already taken oath as council members alongside their parliamentary oath and signed the necessary documents.

Urging swift action, he called on the authorities concerned to convene the council’s first meeting without delay so that the public mandate expressed through the referendum can be implemented.