Charter to be amended if necessary: FM
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni speaks at a discussion styled "Fifteenth amendment to the constitution and anti-state politics of opposition" organised by Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee in the city's Women's Voluntary Association (WVA) auditorium yesterday.Photo: STAR
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni said yesterday the government would further amend the constitution, if required, for the reality and circumstances in future. "The government put its all-out effort to present the nation an excellent constitution. If necessary in future, the constitution will be amended further ", she said. Dipu Moni was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion styled "Fifteenth amendment to the constitution and anti-state politics of opposition" organised by Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee in the city's Women's Voluntary Association (WVA) auditorium. The discussion was arranged to mark the 17th anniversary of the killing of five youths by Jamaat-Shibir cadres in Chittagong for protesting against a Jamaat rally. Dipu Moni also brushed aside the opposition party's allegation that the government amended the constitution hastily. The special committee took 11 months and held 27 meetings for the amendment, she said. She also said it is not possible to implement all the election pledges within five-year tenure when the government has to remove anomalies of the past 40 years. Dipu Moni viewed that BNP and its allies are afraid as the government plugs all the loopholes to stop undemocratic power takeover. State Minister for Home Shamsul Haque Tuku said BNP is trying to create anarchy in the country to protect the party chief's family interests and the war criminals. BNP launches movement not over the caretaker government system but to make the country unstable and destroy democracy, he added. At the discussion, noted jurist Barrister Amir-Ul Islam termed some provisions of the 15th amendment "contradictory", saying Islam as state religion and secularism cannot go together in the constitution. He called upon all pro-liberation forces to mount coordinated movements against the anti-liberation forces and militancy. The jurist also urged the Election Commission to investigate into the documents of electoral manipulation in 'Yes' or 'No' vote during autocratic governments. Delivering the welcome speech, the Nirmul Committee executive president demanded cancellation of citizenship of those who do not abide by the constitution and award punishment equating to that for sedition offence to those who will make derogatory comment regarding the constitution. Justice Mohammad Golam Rabbani, president of Ekatturer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, chaired the discussion while its vice presidents Ferdousi Priyabhashini and Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, among others, also spoke.
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