‘Faith in Almighty Allah’ to Return to Constitution: Minister

The phrase “full faith and trust in Almighty Allah” will be restored to Bangladesh’s Constitution as part of the proposed constitutional amendments, Home Minister and Chairman of the Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment Salahuddin Ahmed said on Sunday.

He said the implementation of the July National Charter would remain the government’s priority, while issues for which the government received a mandate through its election manifesto would also be incorporated into the constitutional reform process.

“We will restore ‘full faith and trust in Almighty Allah’ in the Constitution. This is a commitment in our election manifesto,” Salahuddin said.

He made the remarks while briefing reporters at the media centre of the Jatiya Sangsad after the third meeting of the special committee on constitutional amendment.

The minister said the proposed amendments could cover the Constitution’s Preamble and Articles 8, 48, 56 and 142. He said amendments to certain fundamental provisions would require a referendum before receiving the President’s assent.

Salahuddin said Article 142 of the Constitution had been revived following the Supreme Court’s annulment of the 15th Amendment. Under the proposed process, a constitutional referendum would be held after Parliament passes the amendment bill for provisions requiring direct public approval.

Regarding the caretaker government system, he said a proposal had been submitted by the BNP to require a referendum for future amendments to the relevant constitutional provisions.

He said the proposal was intended to ensure that a future Parliament could not easily abolish the caretaker government system without public approval.

The committee is making efforts to submit its report to Parliament by December, Salahuddin said. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the Ministry of Law is expected to prepare a constitutional amendment bill.

The bill may be placed before Parliament during its first session in January next year, after which it would undergo discussion and possible amendments before being passed. Proposed changes requiring a referendum would then be put to a public vote.

Salahuddin also called on opposition parties to participate in the constitutional amendment process, saying their proposals and opinions would be considered if they joined the committee’s discussions.

The special committee has been consulting political parties, editors, journalists and other stakeholders as it prepares its recommendations on the proposed constitutional reforms.