FROM PAGE 12

signing of the July Charter is a historic event” that requires wider public engagement.

The commission on Thursday sent letters to all political parties, seeking their opinions by 4:00pm yesterday, on the repeal of article 4A. By the deadline, 11 parties had replied. BNP and Jamaat had not submitted their responses until 7:00pm.

Confirming the dispatch of letters, Ali Riaz told this newspaper, “We have reviewed the constitutions of 121 countries and found that none of them include a mandatory provision requiring the display of any individual’s portrait in offices.”

article 4a was introduced through the 15th amendment in 2011 during the Sheikh Hasina-led government, which was ousted in last year’s July uprising.

The interim government’s Constitution Reform Commission has already recommended abolishing the article, saying, “Such a provision encourages personality cults and paves the way for dictatorship. Bangladesh is the collective outcome of the leadership, sacrifice, and contributions of countless distinguished individuals.”

A reform commission member earlier said nearly all of the 33 political parties consulted, except a few leftist ones, favoured repeal.

Contacted yesterday, BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed said, “This [repealing article 4a] was included as point number 5 in our response to the Constitution Reform Commission’s report. At the time, we expressed our agreement with it. There was never any scope for disagreement.”

Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad also backed the move, saying, “By adding this article to the constitution, the Awami League had established a Zamindari system.”

NCP Joint Convener Sarwar Tusher said his party, too, supported the proposal.

However, CPB central leader Ruhin Hossain Prince said the matter had not been discussed within his party forum.