Constitutional amendment a must to fully implement July Charter: CW

Chief Whip (CW) of the Jatiya Sangsad, Nurul Islam Moni, has said amending the Constitution is indispensable for fully implementing the July Charter and fulfilling the people's mandate.

Speaking as the chief guest at a press interaction held at the LD Hall of the Parliament building on Monday, he stated that the current government has no alternative but to amend the Constitution to carry out state reforms pledged in the July Charter.

"Those who have received the people's mandate in this election have a primary objective-to implement every line, semicolon, and punctuation of the July Charter in its entirety," he said.

Emphasising economic and social security, the Chief Whip highlighted the vision of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, saying it centers on ensuring food for every citizen and creating employment opportunities for all professions, including blacksmiths, potters, weavers, and goldsmiths.

He raised a rhetorical question: "If your brother remains unemployed and your neighbour goes hungry, what is the value of that state?"

He stressed that food is the most basic human need and argued that a functioning democracy is essential to meet such needs.

According to him, a democratic environment and social stability enable people to become economically self-reliant. "Without democracy, neither a rickshaw-puller nor a big businessman can feel secure," he added.

However, he criticised the past one-and-a-half decades of governance, claiming that both democracy and the economy had been severely weakened, alleging that Tk27 trillion was siphoned out of the country, leaving the economy in a fragile state.

On constitutional reform, he noted that the current Parliament operates under Article 115 and 153 provisions of the Constitution, and that even the interim government and the Election Commission of Bangladesh have taken oath under the same framework. 

"But to reflect the aspirations of the people, there is no alternative to constitutional amendment," he asserted.

He added that Tarique Rahman remains committed to fulfilling all conditions of the July Charter. He mentioned that around 220 newly-elected MPs are still gaining familiarity with parliamentary practices, while also acknowledging the presence of capable and educated members in the opposition.

He expressed hope that through constructive participation, as well as through commissions and parliamentary committees aligned with the July Charter, meaningful state reforms would be achieved.

Highlighting recent government initiatives, the Chief Whip said that within just over two months in office, the government has introduced changes across sectors, including the recruitment of 10,000 teachers and initiatives like agriculture and family cards.

He also claimed that working on 133 ordinances within just five days was an unprecedented achievement. He added that the head of government is working tirelessly from morning till midnight to stabilise the state structure.

Calling on journalists to play a constructive role, he said, "The tree of democracy we have planted must be nurtured, and you share that responsibility." He urged unity among all stakeholders to safeguard national interests and protect democracy.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com