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Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, taking the floor, said parliamentary practice requires that such matters be raised only after the starred questions and Rule 71 discussions are completed.

“I would request the leader of the opposition to wait until the rules are finished,” he said.

Amid desk-thumping from Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed also questioned which provisions of the rules of procedure applied to the matter.

Shafiqur again took the floor, saying, “In line with the speaker’s instruction, I rose after the question-and-answer session. This is both my right and my responsibility.”

Kayser Kamal, after a debate between treasury bench and opposition members, said a decision on the matter would be announced later in the day’s proceedings.

After nearly an hour and a half, Shafiqur took the floor and placed the notice, which said that following the referendum’s decisive “Yes” vote win, members elected to the 13th parliament are legally obligated to take two oaths -- one as members of parliament and another as members of the Constitution Reform Council.

MPs from the BNP-led alliance refused to take oath as members of the Constitution Reform Council. Meanwhile, 77 MPs from the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance took both oaths.

According to the July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order, 2025, the first session of the council should be convened in the same manner as the first session of parliament -- within 30 calendar days of the election results being declared. However, this has not yet been done.

After the opposition leader placed the proposal, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman said that such an important matter requires debate and requested the speaker to set a time for discussion.

Immediately after the law minister’s speech, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed rose on a point of order.

He said the opposition leader’s notice was not in line with Rule 62 of the Rules of Procedure and should instead have been submitted under Rule 68. He added that the speaker could, if he wished, ask the opposition leader to correct it.

His statement prompted opposition MPs to stand up in protest, creating uproar in the House. Opposition members loudly voiced their objections, while the speaker repeatedly requested them to sit down.

Addressing the speaker, the home minister said, “I seek your protection. You may give the floor to opposition members, no problem. But let me speak. We must not return to the old culture. If you do not give me time, I will sit down; that is the rule.”

The speaker then asked him to continue.

Salahuddin said, “If the notice is accepted, it must be accepted in amended form. Under Rule 63, no proposal can be brought for discussion if its remedy can only be through legislation. In this case, the remedy lies in constitutional amendment and legislation. Generally, adjournment motions are brought on issues like price hikes or deterioration of law and order.”

The minister then made a proposal: “We want to amend the constitution, and some opposition members also want reforms. In parliamentary language, the constitution may be enacted, repealed, suspended, or amended.”

He proposed forming a committee comprising members from both the government and the opposition, aiming to amend the constitution.

He added that the committee could, if it wished, invite constitutional experts, eminent citizens, stakeholders, and newspaper editors to provide opinions. “We want to amend the constitution through consensus.”

He clarified that he was not opposing the July charter. “This document has not directly changed the constitution, nor has any provision been altered. According to the July charter, constitutional amendments will be made. Parties that mentioned other issues in their manifestos have received mandates accordingly. BNP has received the mandate. BNP can therefore bring forward those manifesto issues that touch the constitution.”

After hearing the statements of the opposition leader, the law minister, and the home minister, Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal made his announcement.

“Under Rule 65(2) of the Rules of Procedure, I am setting aside two hours for discussion on March 31 after the day’s agenda is completed.”

Salahuddin Ahmed again took the floor despite objections from opposition MPs.

At that point, the deputy speaker said, “I have already given my decision. Please sit down.”

The home minister continued speaking even after his microphone was switched off.

Later, the deputy speaker gave the floor to the opposition leader.

He said, “Once you have given your ruling, no further words on the matter are valid. You remain firm in your position, and we are with you.”