Govt Proposes 17-Member Panel for Constitution Reform

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The government has proposed forming a special parliamentary committee to review and work on constitutional amendments, Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman told Parliament on Wednesday during the ongoing session.

He said the proposal includes a 17-member committee aimed at strengthening constitutional practices and ensuring broader political participation in the reform process. According to him, the initiative reflects an effort to make constitutional discussions more inclusive and structured within the legislative framework.

Speaking in Parliament, the law minister noted that constitutional discourse in Bangladesh has become widespread across society, from formal institutions to everyday discussions. “We want to bring that practice into Parliament in a more organized way,” he said.

He explained that under Rule 266 of the Rules of Procedure, the government is planning to form a special committee on constitutional amendment. As part of the proposal, a list of 12 members from the treasury bench has already been prepared.

The proposed list reportedly includes representatives from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gonosanghati Andolon, Bangladesh Jatiya Party, along with independent lawmakers. Among the treasury bench nominees, seven are expected from BNP and five from other parties and independents.

The minister also emphasized the importance of opposition participation in the committee. He said the government has requested the opposition to nominate five members, which would help ensure balanced representation.

“If they provide their five nominees by tomorrow, we want to form the committee without delay and move forward with discussions on constitutional reform and the implementation of the July Charter,” he added.

The proposed committee is expected to play a key role in reviewing constitutional issues and facilitating dialogue among political parties on future amendments and governance reforms.