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🇧🇩 Bangladesh /Elections & Politics

BNP dismisses calls to amend Article 70 before presidential election

From Daily Star · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A BNP leader dismissed calls to amend Article 70 of the Constitution before the presidential election.
  • The leader stated that any amendment must be considered collectively by parliament.
  • Jamaat-e-Islami called for the amendment, arguing Article 70 hinders MPs' independent voting rights.

Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, a Standing Committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), dismissed the debate over amending Article 70 of the Constitution ahead of the presidential election. He stated that while an amendment could be considered if parliament deliberates collectively, raising the issue before the election is irrelevant and creates confusion.

If parliament considers it collectively, it may happen. But raising this question before the presidential election is irrelevant and only creates confusion.

— Gayeshwar Chandra RoyDismissing calls to amend Article 70 before the presidential election.

Roy confirmed that the BNP candidate, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, has been declared valid for Bangladesh's 23rd presidential election and that the party awaits the vote on the 20th. Responding to Jamaat-e-Islami's assertion that Article 70 is a significant obstacle, Roy maintained that the election must proceed under the existing Constitution. He added that barriers must be overcome through parliamentary amendment, rendering street-level discussions pointless.

Regarding the selection of the party's next secretary general, Roy indicated that the matter would be decided by the BNP Standing Committee at its Gulshan office. BNP leaders Abdul Moyeen Khan, Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, and Whip Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu were present during the scrutiny process.

Where there is a barrier, it must be overcome through parliamentary amendment -- nothing beyond that. Talking about it on the streets is pointless.

— Gayeshwar Chandra RoyOn the process for amending constitutional provisions.

Earlier, Jamaat leader and Dhaka-16 Member of Parliament Abdul Baten had argued that Article 70 prevents MPs from exercising independent voting rights and called for its amendment before the election. Baten noted that after nearly 35 years, a presidential election is being held, and emphasized the need for democratic continuity, stating that Article 70 obstructs MPs' ability to vote freely.

After nearly 35 years, a presidential election is being held. We want democratic continuity to prevail. But Article 70 bars MPs from voting freely.

— Abdul BatenExplaining Jamaat-e-Islami's call for amending Article 70.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Daily Star in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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