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the oath format for members defined, and the individual responsible for administering it clearly identified.

He further argued that by administering oaths to members of the Constitution Reform Council, the chief election commissioner had violated the constitution. “I could have asked the CEC who authorised him to issue such oath forms, but since the CEC is not present in parliament, that question cannot be raised.”

The order stated that constitutional reforms must be completed within 180 days.

Salahuddin asked: “Where, then, is the supremacy of parliament and the people?” About the 70 percent “yes” vote, he said the referendum was meant only to test support for the July charter. He criticised the referendum format, saying that only one answer was given to four questions, calling the implementation order “a document of national fraud”.

He stressed that no parliament can be bound or stripped of its jurisdiction by a previous parliament, and no presidential order can undermine parliamentary sovereignty. “Under article 93 of the constitution, even ordinances cannot alter constitutional provisions. Therefore, the July charter implementation order is illegal.”

The home minister said there was confusion over whether the BNP opposed reforms or the July charter. “In fact, every word of the charter signed is embraced by the BNP,” he added, pointing out that he himself had proposed the referendum in the National Consensus Commission, and that the charter explicitly allows dissent notes, meaning a party can act on its manifesto if it receives a mandate.

He then affirmed that they are committed to implementing the July charter. “The people endorsed the BNP’s manifesto with a 51 percent mandate, and the BNP wants to bring democratic constitutional amendments through discussions involving both ruling and opposition parties.”

Proposing the special parliamentary committee on behalf of the Leader of the House Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he said, “In that committee, we should all sit together, hold discussions, and through consensus bring forward a constitution amendment bill that reflects the people’s aspirations in this great national parliament, and adopt it on the basis of agreement.”

Later, Law Minister Md Asaduzzman also made a similar proposal.

In response, Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman said the discussion was about the Constitution Reform Council and convening its session, and proposed a separate special committee to convene the council.

“If you consider it appropriate after this discussion, you may form the special committee. But our appeal is that the committee should have equal numbers of members from both sides. That way, we can present our views properly.

“If the committee is formed on the basis of majority alone, then the same kind of debate we see here will continue there as well. In that case, nothing new will come out -- it will be the same old story. We have expressed our intent. Now the decision rests with you.”

He added, “We sincerely call upon the ruling party -- since the people have accepted the referendum, if we also accept it, we will be honoring the people, and this parliament will be honored. Let the people’s aspirations be reflected through our collective initiative. If we continue to move in parallel lines -- government on one side, opposition on the other -- then how can there be a solution? We all understand this.”

The Jamaat ameer further said, “The home minister called this order an endless deception. He said that the interim government and the president together did this. The order was issued on November 13 last year. And the vote took place on February 12 this year. Because of their [BNP’s] demand, the parliament and the referendum were held on the same day, and the government formally congratulated them. So, the referendum was also their demand.”

Also, Shafiqur said that both he and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman sought “yes” vote in the referendum.

“We did not change our position,” he said, adding that if the referendum is called unconstitutional, then many past referendums will come into question.

Law Minister Asaduzzaman, in his address, termed the July charter implementation order both a “colourable legislation” -- a law that appears valid but exceeds the legislature’s power, often disguising an unconstitutional purpose -- and a “fraud on the constitution”.

He criticised the opposition’s demand for a “50-50” membership split in the proposed committee, terming it unfair as the BNP has 209 MPs while the opposition alliance has 77 MPs.

Jamaat-e-Islami MP Najibur Rahman said that, according to article 152 of the constitution, a president’s order is a law.

Jamaat’s Nurul Islam said, “According to the constitution, elections must be held within 90 days of parliament’s dissolution. Was that done? No…. The current constitution says elections should be in 2029. How did we hold them in 2026 then? Does that mean parliament, government -- everything -- is illegal?”

National Citizen Party MP Akhtar Hossain said that the implementation of the July charter and the formation of a Constitution Reform Council are matters of political goodwill on the part of the ruling party.

“Why do they now refuse to accept the verdict of the referendum? The people voted in favour of implementing the July National Charter. To call that verdict unconstitutional is arrogant and a disgrace to parliament.”

NCP MP Hasnat Abdullah pointed out how the constitution is valued only when certain sections suit certain parties. “The fall of Hasina came through blood, sweat, and toil of every anti-fascist party. Popular verdicts never bow their heads to books.”

Andaleeve Rahman Partha said they are not against the July charter but are raising questions about the process. “We respect the July charter and its spirit. We respect the constitution…. At the same time, we must find a way to uplift the spirit of July.

“Many talk about discarding the constitution. Is it because the constitution reminds them of the defeat of 1971? Why should I throw it away? If I dislike it, there are provisions within the constitution itself to amend it. Why discard it entirely?”

To the NCP and July fighters, he said, “You represent Gen-Z. Don’t make yourselves a part of the Jamaat generation.”