The 15-member committee, headed by Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, consists of only Awami League-led ruling alliance lawmakers, as BNP declined to nominate a representative following an invitation from the ruling party.

No position was kept reserved for an opposition representative either.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is also the Leader of the House, brought a motion for the committee’s formation under section 266 of the rules of procedure of Jatiya Sangsad, and made a brief statement.

She said the amendment to the constitution is "necessary for upholding democracy, and for blocking the way for usurpation of state power through imposition of martial laws in future".

Earlier in the day, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain said the "All-party Parliamentary Committee" is unconstitutional, and its formation contradicts the rules of procedure of the parliament.

Unanimously approved by the House boycotted by BNP, the special committee will examine the constitution, and place a report in the parliament proposing necessary amendments to the country’s charter. But it was not given any timeframe for submitting that report.

The committee was also empowered to seek opinions of constitutional experts, and to invite them to its meetings.

"The constitution needs to be amended to block the way for illegal usurpation of state power," Hasina said bringing the motion.

She said keeping democratic rule upheld is the only way to economic development of a country. "Our prime objective is to establish that democratic trend."

She however did not make it clear whether her government will move to restore the original constitution of 1972 through the amendment.

In defence of the move, the premier said the constitution, the supreme law of the land, was damaged in the name of amendments through martial law proclamations during about four years following the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975.

"Therefore, re-amendment to the constitution is required in light of the High Court verdict," Hasina said.

Ending her 10-minute speech, Hasina proposed the names of the members and chief of the committee.

In absence of the opposition lawmakers led by BNP, treasury bench deputies voted for the motion, and it got the parliament’s nod amid cheers, and desk thumping.

Suranjit Sengupta, chief of the parliamentary standing committee on law justice and parliamentary affairs ministry, was made the co-chair of the committee consisting lawmakers from AL, Jatiya Party, Workers Party, and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal.

The other members are Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzaq, Tofail Ahmed, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Rahmat Ali, Syed Ashraful Islam, Fazle Rabbi Mia, Rashed Khan Menon, Abdul Matin Khasru, Hasanul Haq Inu, Anisul Islam Mahmud, Hasan Mahmud, and Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury.

Treasury Bench Chief Whip Abdus Shahid, who had written to Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia on Sunday night, requesting her to nominate an opposition lawmaker for the committee, said on Tuesday that a position would be kept vacant for BNP.

But contacted by The Daily Star last evening, after the formation of the committee, Shahid said he has nothing to do now as the committee has already been formed.

Asked if he will reply to the opposition chief whip’s letter that sought explanation for the committee’s formation, Shahid said he knew nothing about the matter.

Shahid brushed aside the BNP secretary general’s remark, and said the committee was formed certainly following the constitution and the rules of procedure of the parliament.

Hasina, during her motion speech said the people gave her government a historic mandate in the December 29, 2008 parliamentary election, and created an opportunity for it to carry out the historic responsibility.

"It is imperative to carry out the historic responsibility," she added.

She also termed the High Court verdict "a landmark", which had declared illegal the fifth amendment and the military regimes between August 15, 1975 to April 9, 1979.

The HC verdict, which had been declared in 2005, was upheld by the Appellate Division in February this year.

The fifth amendment to the constitution was passed in the parliament in 1979, ratifying all actions of preceding military rulers, including amendments to the constitution, which had been made under martial law regulations and proclamations.

Hasina said the country got the constitution through sacrifice of 30 lakh peoples’ lives, and at the cost of 2 lakh mothers’ and sisters’ sanctity.

But the constitution was wounded repeatedly by bayonets of soldiers following the August 15, 1975 blood bath, she added.

Hasina said there is no provision for declaring martial law in the constitution, nor in the army’s act and regulations, but martial law was declared on August 20, 1975.

She also said members of the military became victims of the martial law as thousands of officers and soldiers were killed and punished, and a countless number of political leaders and activists were tortured. "We don’t want recurrence of such incidents," she added.

The prime minister is likely to give some important directives to her party deputies for assisting the government’s move for a constitutional amendment, as she is scheduled to speak at a meeting of AL’s parliamentary party today.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist party, which has two members in the parliament and was boycotting the session yesterday, had not been invited to nominate any representative for the committee.

Liberal Democratic Party which has one member in the parliament was also not invited to nominate any representative.

Apart from implementation of the fifth amendment verdict, the AL-led government will have to amend the constitution to implement its electoral pledges on women reserved seats and MP’s freedom to speak in parliament.

In the electoral pledge the AL promised to increase the number of reserved seats for women in parliament to 100 from 45 and introduce direct election for them.

It also pledged to allow lawmakers to express differing opinions except for some specific subjects related to the security of the state.

However, the party’s electoral manifesto did not clearly say anything about the change to the caretaker government system.http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=147753

2. Flash Flood Hits 15 Lalmonirhat Villages, 4,000 families marooned
Lalmonirhat: Flash flood hit at least 15 villages in three upazilas of the district in the last two days leaving over 4000 families marooned.

Onrush of water from the upstream has caused the river Teesta to swell and overflow its banks, BWDB officials said.

They blamed the Indian authorities for keeping most of the gates of Gajoldoba barrage across the border open and cited this as the main reason for the flash flood.

Low-lying areas in the three upazilas were flooded as the Teesta river was flowing only two centimetre below the danger level at Daliya point at Hatibandha upazila on Tuesday, the officials said.

The flood-hit villages are Goddimari, Sindurna, Dowani, Daliya, Singimari, Madhdho Goddimari, Paruliya, Barokhata, Dawabari, Saniyazan, Char Sindurna, Uttor Goddimari of Hatibandha upazila, Rudreshwar, Jamirabari, Char Kakina and Votmari of Kaligonj upazila and South Balapara, Gobordhan, Kadomtola and Kutirpar of Aditmari upazila.

Most houses in these villages have gone under about 2-3 feet water. Many people have taken shelter on the near by embankment or shifted to other highlands, locals said.http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=147790

2. BNP wants to see changes before going for movement
by Rakib Hasnet Suman in The Dailyn Star, July 22
Dhaka: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has said her party would determine the next course of action after observing the changes to be suggested by the special committee for amending the country’s constitution.

The leader of the opposition made the remark at a meeting with high-ups of like-minded parties at her Gulshan office last night.

Different issues including the ongoing anti-government movement were raised at the meeting.

Khaleda requested the leaders to participate in BNP’s hunger strike programme on July 25, said party insiders.

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain told journalists after the meeting that the issue of bringing any amendment to the constitution was not in Awami League’s election manifesto.

BNP and its allies will go for anti-government agitation against the move, he said.

Acting Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Makbul Ahmed and acting Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam, Islami Oikyo Jote (IOJ) Chairman Fazlul Haque Aminee and Secretary General Abdul Latif Nezami, and Bangladesh Jatiya Party Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho, among others, attended the meeting.

The main opposition and Islamic parties now fear that the government might drop the provisions of caretaker government and religion-based politics from the country’s constitution.

A number of BNP leaders have hinted that movement would be the only option to frustrate any attempt to scrap the provision of caretaker government.

The leaders however said they would decide on any government move to ban religion-based politics after observing the whole situation.

But high-ups of Islamic parties said it is BNP’s responsibility to side with the religion-based parties right now. They said the Islamic parties would sit to devise a strategy to continue religion-based politics in the country.

BNP leaders, who rejected the ruling party’s proposal to nominate a representative for an all-party parliamentary committee, said they would decide on it after evaluating the government move.

BNP leader Moudud Ahmed termed the initiative eyewash and said the ruling party wanted BNP in the committee only to legalise it and give it authenticity.

"The whole matter is political and we will face it politically," Moudud, also former law minister, said in reply to a query.

Rafiqul Islam Mia, member of BNP standing committee, said if religion-based political parties lose legitimacy, it would be harmful to the country and democracy.

"A large number of people believe in religion-based politics. Where will they go if it is banned?" he asked.

The BNP leader said if such a situation arises, his party would decide on the matter evaluating the whole situation.

"The government wants to drop the provision of caretaker government from the constitution to stay in power for long. But people will not accept it," BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain told journalists at the party’s central office in Naya Paltan yesterday.

Abdul Latif Nezami, secretary general of Islami Oikyo Jote (IOJ), said it is BNP’s moral responsibility now to raise its voice against any move to ban religion-based politics as BNP founder Ziaur Rahman initiated inclusion of the provision in the constitution.

He said they [Islamic parties] are maintaining contact with each other and will hold a meeting soon to discuss the issue.

Leaders of religion-based parties like Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Oikyo Jote (IOJ), Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Andolon and Jamiyate Olama Islami might sit together.

They met BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia last night and sought BNP’s support for thwarting any move to ban religion-based politics.

Jamaat leaders hinted that they would try to unite like-minded parties, if the government moves to ban religion-based politics.

"It will harm democracy. I think the government will create a situation forcing all political parties to go for a movement," said a Jamaat leader wishing anonymity. http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=147767

3. Govt to raise salaries of armed forces members
The Daily Star report, July 22
Dhaka:  The government plans to increase salaries, allowances and other facilities of members of the armed forces, Planning Minister Air Vice-Marshal (retd) AK Khandker told the House yesterday.

Replying to lawmakers’ queries, Khandker, also in charge of the defence ministry in parliamentary business, in a scripted answer specified the government’s plans for modernising the armed forces by purchasing vehicles, frigates, aircraft and other equipment.

The minister said the government plans to construct 13 14-storey buildings to resolve accommodation problems of the armed forces. Besides, a modern hotel would be constructed under public-private partnership to provide them with facilities to stay there at a low cost.

The government also considers digitalisation of military engineering service to expedite the work and allocation of plots to army officers under army housing scheme.

Moreover, work started to improve accommodation of officers, GCOs and officials of other ranks.

The minister said the government has taken steps to introduce roller pan on floor bed vehicles for quick loading and unloading of arms and ammunition and modernise radio communications system for the military.

He added the government has also taken necessary steps to set up a new military dairy farm by purchasing cattle from home and abroad to increase supply of milk for the forces.

Currently, the military dairy farm can supply only one-third of the required milk, he said.

The minister went on to say the defence ministry is working to increase allocation of salt to 21 grams per head from 14 grams for soldiers, as additional salt is required to meet the shortage of salt emitted from their bodies due to physical labour.

He said the defence ministry is also working to provide iftar items to Muslim soldiers during the Ramadan.

Khandker said a proposal is under process to reintroduce the facility for members of the armed forces to buy daily essentials from outlets inside cantonments without giving VAT and tax.

On modernisation of the navy, the minister said the government plans to purchase two new frigates, four patrol craft, one logistic ship, four seal delivery vehicles and four underwater scooters.

Besides, he said agreements were signed to bring one off the shelf hydrographic survey ship from the UK Royal Navy, two offshore patrol vessels and two large patrol craft from China.

Five patrol craft and one oil tanker will be constructed at Khulna shipyard through handover of foreign technology, he said.

Another agreement was signed to buy surface-to-surface early warning radar (air and surface search) integrated with fire control and naval gun system and shoulder launched SAM and other related equipment to modernise navy’s missile boats.

On modernisation of the air force, the minister said the government has planned to purchase new aircraft for the force.

A process is underway to overhaul F-7 fighting aircraft, install air-to-air and other types of missile systems and set up an airbase in Cox’s Bazar and air defence radar there to monitor skyline of the Bay, the minister added.http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=147779

4. HC clears way for trial of SQ Chowdhury in money laundering case
The Daily Star Report, July 22
Dhaka: The High Court (HC) yesterday turned down a writ petition filed by BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury challenging the filing and proceedings of a money laundering case against him.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on May 6 this year filed the case with Dhanmondi Police Station accusing the BNP leader of laundering $250,000 and HK$100,000 ($12,864) to buy Beximco Pharmaceuticals’ Global Depository Receipts (GDRs).

An HC bench of Justice MA Wahhab Miah and Justice Kazi Reza-ul Huq passed the order.

Counsel for the petitioner Barrister AKM Fakrul Islam said the case against his client would run at the trial court following the HC order.

He added that the writ petition was rejected since a bail petition filed by Salauddin in this case has not been disposed of.

Following a bail petition by Salauddin, the same HC bench on May 10 this year directed him to surrender before the trial court within eight weeks and asked the government not to arrest or harass him in this case during this period.

Later the Appellate Division stayed the HC order. Additional Attorney General MK Rahman represented the government.http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=147782