STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The Jamaat-e-Islami is set to reject the government’s proposal to join a special parliamentary committee on amending the constitution in line with the July charter.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), a component of the Jamaat-led 11-party opposition alliance, has also opposed joining the committee.

Constitutional reform remains one of the flashpoints between the ruling BNP and the opposition, and the moves have made the fragile reform process further uncertain.

Since the 13th parliament sat, parties including Jamaat have been demanding sweeping changes through a Constitution Reform Council as outlined in the July Charter Implementation Order. They have staged protest programmes and plan more.

The BNP government, however, argues the constitution contains no provision for such a council.

On April 29, it instead proposed forming a special parliamentary committee and sought names from opposition parties.

Shafiqur Rahman, the ameer of Jamaat and leader of the opposition, had initially said the party needed more time for internal discussions.

But yesterday, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair told The Daily Star that the party would not submit any names.

It would formally convey its decision not to join the committee before the next parliamentary session begins on June 7, he said.

“We don’t see any effectiveness of the special parliamentary committee,” he said, noting that the BNP-led coalition would dominate the 17-member body with 12 seats, leaving only five for the opposition.

“In reality, through this committee, the BNP will impose what it wants,” he added.

Zubair argued the committee would not reflect the referendum mandate, where 70 percent voted for reforms based on the July charter.

SEE PAGE 2 COL 1