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SANGSAD BHABAN, April 5, 2026 (BSS) - Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today said the government will implement the July National Charter in line with the constitution, stressing that the constitution remains the sole basis for upholding the people's aspirations.
"Everything, including the formation of the government, parliament and lawmakers, has taken place in accordance with the constitution. So it can't be ignored in the name of implementing the July National Charter," he said.
The minister made the remarks while participating in a discussion on an adjournment motion in the Jatiya Sangsad, with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed in the chair. The motion was scheduled for discussion to deliberate on the implementation process of the July National Charter.
The adjournment motion was earlier brought on April 1 by ruling party lawmaker from Noakhali-2 Zainul Abdin Farroque.
Terming the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025 as "legislative fraud" and "colorable legislation," the home minister said that although all 33 political parties had ratified the charter, the order did not reflect all agreed points.
Speaking on behalf of the leader of the house, he said there is no need to rewrite the constitution, adding that the people's mandate to implement the charter can be realized through constitutional amendments.
Describing the July National Charter 2025 as a historic document reflecting public aspirations, he urged the house to form a special committee comprising representatives from all political parties to recommend necessary constitutional amendments.
Referring to the issue of restoring the Fifth Amendment, he questioned the opposition's stance, noting that the amendment -- introduced during the rule of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman -- was later declared void.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman also spoke during the discussion, urging all sides not to politicize the charter.
He said the document itself provides clear guidelines for its implementation and cautioned against enacting laws that may appear valid but exceed constitutional limits.
He further described the charter as a product of long struggle, marked by repression, extrajudicial killings and sacrifices, and said it should not be treated merely as a political document.
Leader of the opposition Shafiqur Rahman urged parliament not to adopt the adjournment motion, noting that a similar motion had previously been raised without a clear outcome.
Several lawmakers, including Gazi Enamul Huq, Akhter Hossen, Nazibur Rahman, Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin and Andaleev Rahman, also took part in the discussion.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed earlier accepted the motion and allocated two hours for discussion on April 5, describing it as a rare precedent in Bangladesh's parliamentary history.
"This is the first time in 53 years that an adjournment motion brought by a treasury bench member has been accepted for discussion," he said.
Earlier, on March 30, independent MP Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal had also raised a similar adjournment motion on the same issue, which is yet to be decided.
Later, MP Zainul Abdin Farroque raised a fresh adjournment motion during the parliamentary session.
Presenting the motion, he said the "July National Charter" is the outcome of the July-August movement, describing it as the result of years of sacrifice and struggle. He called the charter a roadmap for the nation's future.
Referring to Rule 62 of the Rules of Procedure, he said the charter represents a political consensus and includes proposals for the formulation, amendment, and revision of various laws, including constitutional changes. He stressed the need for a detailed discussion on how to effectively implement the July National Charter 2025, proposing that regular business of the House be adjourned to allow such debate.
Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed accepted the motion, calling it an important proposal.
"I am allowing it to be discussed in accordance with Rule 65(2) of the Rules of Procedure," the Speaker said. "Considering the current business of Parliament, a two-hour discussion on the motion has been scheduled for Sunday, April 5, 2026, as the last item of the day," he added.
