Jamaat ameer urges BNP to join Constitution Reform Council

Published : Wednesday, 11 March, 2026 at 6:56 PM Count : 32

A day before the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad begins, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has urged the BNP to take oath as members of the Constitution Reform Council.

He also said his party does not favour accepting the deputy speaker’s post in a piecemeal manner. Instead, Jamaat wants opposition-entitled positions to be filled based on full implementation of the July reform proposals.

When asked whether the opposition would boycott the president’s speech in parliament, he did not give a direct answer, saying the opposition’s stance would be “visible” during the parliamentary session.

Shafiqur made the remarks while briefing reporters after a meeting of the parliamentary committee of the opposition alliance at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban today.

Elected members of parliament from the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance were present at the meeting chaired by the Jamaat chief.

The Jamaat ameer said the meeting discussed what role the opposition MPs should play in fulfilling public expectations.

“We want the Jatiya Sangsad to play an effective and meaningful role in meeting the expectations of the country and its people. We have already said that we want to play a responsible role as the opposition,” he said.

The opposition’s stance is neither to oppose for the sake of opposition nor to cooperate blindly, he said, adding that the opposition will support and cooperate with any positive decision taken by the government for the welfare of the country.

However, if decisions are taken that will harm the country or its people, the opposition will first point out the mistakes, allow room for correction, and protest if necessary, said the Jamaat chief.

“If protest does not work, we will stand firm in defence of the people’s rights. But we want problems to be resolved at the earliest stage,” he added.

The Jamaat chief also said his party has accepted the outcomes of both the parliamentary election and the reform-related referendum held on the same day in the greater interest of the country.

Urging ruling party MPs to take oath in the Constitution Reform Council, he said, “We call on them to honour July. If we honour July, then ’24 will lead to ’26. Ignoring ’24 will not bring any good news for the nation in 2026.”

He said his party would work to ensure the full implementation of the four issues on which opinions were sought in the referendum and would extend full cooperation to the government in this regard.

Responding to a question about the deputy speaker’s post, Shafiqur Rahman said BNP had informally contacted them on the matter.

Earlier, while speaking to reporters on the parliament premises, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher described President Mohammed Shahabuddin as an “ally of authoritarianism”.

“We believe the president has no right to deliver a speech in parliament,” he said.

FP/MI