DHAKA: Opposition BNP sent reply to ruling Awami League’s letter inviting nomination of a member to an all-party parliamentary committee for constitution amendment, but without proposing any name.

“We have not taken any decision as to whether or not to join the constitution amendment committee,” said opposition chief whip Jainul Abdin Farrouque after a policy meeting at BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office on Tuesday night.

“We are sending the reply to the letter in the same style we received from the government,” he added.

He told reporters that the reply would be delivered to the government party chief whip within the night.

Coming out from the meeting, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury said, “It is not clear in the letter what Awami League really wants.”

Asked whether any name has been named in the BNP letter for the proposed parliamentary committee, he quipped: “What this letter is for? It does not follow the parliamentary rules of procedure.”

The crucial meeting, held with Khaleda Zia in the chair, was attended by party Secretary-General Khandakar Delwar Hossain, Standing Committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar, Supreme Court Bar Association President Advocate Khondaker Mahbub Hossain and Senior Joint Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.       

Earlier on Sunday, the ruling Awami League sent the letter to Khaleda Zia inviting nomination for an all-party parliamentary committee for constitution amendment in the light of the rescinding of the fifth amendment.

BDST 2254 HRS, JULY 30, 2010