FROM PAGE 1

The BNP had signed the charter and publicly supported reforms, but its MPs refused to take oath as members of the Constitution Reform Council, which was proposed to bring constitutional changes in line with the July charter, he said.

Zubair said the Jamaat-led alliance would continue protests inside parliament and on the streets. They have planned rallies in seven divisional cities, from May 16 in Rajshahi. The rallies will continue till July.

A grand rally in Dhaka is likely to be held either in September or October.

Contacted, BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said, “We are waiting for Jamaat’s response. If they do not agree, we will discuss the matter in the party forums and decide our next course of action.”

NCP Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam echoed Jamaat’s stance, saying the party favours a reform council over a parliamentary committee.

“... There is no possibility of our participation [in the committee],” he told this newspaper, adding that the NCP has already been carrying out joint activities across districts to press for the council’s formation.

On April 29, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman told parliament that he and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed had proposed forming the special committee.

He said the ruling party had prepared a list of 12 members -- seven from BNP and five from Gono Adhikar Parishad, Ganosamhati Andolan, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), and independents. It asked the opposition to nominate five.

Highlighting the opposition’s strength, he noted they hold 26 percent of seats in parliament.

On March 31, the treasury bench dismissed the July Charter Implementation Order as “a document of endless deceit and national betrayal” and recommended forming an all-party committee.

In response, Shafiqur proposed convening the Constitution Reform Council instead. The debate took place during discussion on an adjournment motion calling for the council’s formation.

Under the July Charter Implementation Order, MPs of the 13th parliament were expected to serve as lawmakers and reform council members to address 48 constitutional amendment proposals within 180 working days.

They were required to take two oaths -- one as lawmakers and another as council members.

The council’s first session was to be convened within 30 days of election results, but it has yet to be formed.

BNP MPs refused to take the council oath, while 77 MPs from the Jamaat-led alliance took both.

The July National Charter, drafted by the National Consensus Commission, outlined the 48 proposals for constitutional reform.

The BNP submitted notes of dissent on several key provisions, supporting amendments based on its own position.

Jamaat, the NCP, and other opposition parties favour implementing all 48 proposals through a Constitution Reform Council, which was endorsed in a referendum with a majority “yes” vote.