Stakeholders of July Uprising to be consulted before constitutional amendment: Salahuddin

The parliamentary special committee on constitutional amendment will hold discussions with stakeholders of the 2024 July uprising before finalising its recommendations, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said today (4 August).

"We want to prepare an acceptable amendment proposal by taking opinions from people of all classes and professions, including political parties," he told reporters after the committee's first meeting at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Salahuddin, also chairman of the special committee, said the committee would follow an open and inclusive approach in preparing its recommendations.

"As we are liberal and open, we will listen to everyone. We will incorporate necessary proposals and prepare our report accordingly," he added.

According to a press release issued after the meeting, the committee will consult those who participated in the July Uprising, families of those killed during the uprising, constitutional experts, Supreme Court lawyers, retired judges, media representatives, teachers, student representatives, opposition lawmakers and other stakeholders.

The committee wants to take the amendment process to a stage where people from all sections of society feel they are part of the process, it said, adding that the changes should bring benefits for future generations.

It also mentioned that the constitutional amendment process will be guided by the spirit of the 2024 July uprising and the July National Charter.

The recommendations will later be turned into a constitutional amendment bill and placed before Parliament, the home minister said, adding, "The bill will be discussed in Parliament, and we want to adopt the amendment through understanding so that it reflects public expectations."

The first meeting of the committee discussed preparing a list of individuals and organisations to be consulted and setting a schedule for those discussions, the release added.

Speaking to reporters, Home Minister Salahuddin also said anyone interested in submitting suggestions would also be given the opportunity to do so.

Suggestions may be submitted during committee meetings or in writing, he added.

He, however, could not specify when the committee would submit its report, saying the timeframe had not yet been finalised.

Responding to a question about the opposition's absence from the committee, Salahuddin said the government had requested the opposition to nominate five representatives, but the names had not yet been received.

"We still hope they will reconsider and submit the names. We will also hold discussions with them," he said.

He added that even if the opposition does not nominate members, the committee will seek opinions from opposition lawmakers.