Govt to form expert body to review constitution
The government has decided to constitute a high-powered expert committee for a thorough review of the constitution, said a senior minister.
The decision came from the yesterday's cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
“The committee will be formed to enrich and update the constitution by bringing about amendments to it,” Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader told The Daily Star at his office yesterday.
He said the committee will come into being very soon. Persons having vast knowledge about constitution and legal affairs will be included in the committee, he added.
Bangladesh adopted its constitution in 1972 and the 4 basic principles were enshrined in it: secularism, nationalism, democracy and socialism. A total of 14 amendments have been brought to it.
After the assassination of Bangabanadhu along with his family members in 1975, Awami League (AL) sat at the helm of the state power for the first time in 1996 but they lacked the two-third majority, an essential prerequisite to amend the constitution.
AL, one of the major political parties alone secured nearly three-fourth parliamentary seats this time in the December 29 election. “Now we can amend the constitution,” said another minister, seeking anonymity.
A day after oath-taking as Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed announced he would take steps to restore the 1972 Constitution in order to inject the spirit of secularism, liberation war, rule of law and democracy into the mindset of the people of the country.