DHAKA: Co-chairman of the special committee formed Wednesday for constitutional amendment Suranjit Sengupta Thursday said the door was still open for the boycotting BNP to join the panel for making changes to the much-mutilated constitution.

Sengupta clobbered BNP Secretary-General Khondaker Delwar Hossain for his comments against the move, saying that he does not understand both the 1972 constitution and the caretaker government.

Speaking at a discussion meeting on Sheikh Russel at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity auditorium, the ruling-party leader aid BNP still could send representative to the committee. “Even they can send more than one representative, if they want.”  

The co-chairman said leader of the house Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina can incorporate the representatives, if she wishes.

Pointing finger at the BNP secretary-general, the Awami League leader said, “There is nothing to worry about so quickly.”

Suranjit Sengupta noted that the eleventh and twelfth amendments to the constitution were done while BNP was in power. “The committee then formed was not illegal, so why it will be illegal now?”  

Indicating BNP, Sengupta quipped: “ I understand their pains. The problem is with scenarios before and after 1975. The government before 1975 was of people’s government. But the government after 1975 came through amendment of the constitution and that government was given legality. Now that is coming to an end.”  

Sengupta said the committee formed Wednesday is highly powerful. This committee will discuss anything on constitutional amendment and caretaker government.

“The committee has been empowered to make addition or deletion if they deem necessary. No party or individual can do anything bypassing the decision of the committee,” he said about the significance of the move.   

With president of the organization Razia Mostafa in the chair, the discussion was also addressed, among others, by Awami League presidium member Advocate Yusuf Hossain Humayan, Organizing Secretary Ahmed Hossain and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Motahar  Hossain.  

BDST/ 1333 HRS, JULY 22, 2010