Dhaka, March 15 (NationPress) As the second session of Bangladesh's 13th Parliament approaches this Sunday, the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral coalition is pressing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) administration to swiftly call for a session of the Constitutional Reform Council. They have issued a warning that failure to act promptly on the implementation of the July National Charter will result in street protests, as reported by local media.

During a press conference on Saturday, following a meeting in Dhaka, Jamaat leader Hamidur Rahman Azad indicated that senior members of the coalition will convene soon to announce their protest plans.

He cautioned that the nation would not forgive a failure to convene the reform council session as per the July Charter, holding the government and the leader of the House responsible, according to The Daily Star.

Azad further asserted that the recent elections did not accurately reflect the people's voting rights.

Reports indicate that the BNP government remains indifferent to Jamaat's threats of protests, as establishing a Constitutional Reform Council is not a priority for them at this time.

According to various BNP leaders involved in discussions on this matter, The Daily Star reported that creating the council outside the parliamentary framework, as dictated by the July charter implementation order, could lead to legal complications.

“Opposing parties are vocal about the issue but lack substantial constitutional arguments,” a BNP lawmaker, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated.

BNP leaders contend that constitutional reforms should be debated and ratified in Parliament, ensuring that elected MPs can participate and influence decisions regarding these matters.

“We will proceed by adhering to the constitutional process,” said a standing committee member on the condition of anonymity.

The newly elected MPs from the 13th parliamentary election took their oaths on February 17, and members of the Jamaat-led alliance simultaneously swore in as part of the proposed Constitutional Reform Council.

However, BNP lawmakers refrained from taking the oath as council members, claiming the council lacks a constitutional foundation.

Earlier on Thursday, during the inaugural session of the newly elected Parliament, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman appealed for support and cooperation from citizens and fellow Parliament members, including the opposition, to foster a self-sufficient, prosperous, safe, and democratic nation, as reported by local media.

Conversely, opposition lawmakers exited the Parliament in protest against President Mohammed Shahabuddin's constitutionally mandated address, which marked the session's commencement, according to UNB. This action was perceived as an early challenge to the Parliament's effective operation, jeopardizing parliamentary protocol and its constitutional standing.