CHITTAGONG: Gono Forum president and constitutional expert Dr Kamal Hossain said amendment to the constitution should be brought on the basis of national consensus and advised the recalcitrant opposition to reverse their boycott stance.

“National consensus is a must if changes supplementary to the 5th amendment are to be brought in the constitution,” he told journalists after a workshop in a city hotel Saturday.

Dr Kamal, a jurist of international repute, also opined as the 5th amendment made by military ruler was not constitutional, the government now has to execute the court verdict through repealing the amendment.

The politico-jurist urged all not to make the special committee formed for constitutional amendment ‘controversial’ through ‘mere criticism’.

He suggested that the boycotting opposition BNP should strongly participate in the process, avoiding “political race”.

“Constitutional amendment is not the task of government or a political party alone,” he said.

Replying to a question, Dr Kamal, one of the architects of the 1972 original constitution of the nation, said the country saw the exploitation of politics in 1971 in the name of religion. “People are now opposing that kind of politics.”

International Business Forum President Mahmudul Islam presided over the workshop on City Governance and Private Sector’s Development.

Mayor of the port city M Manjur Alam, BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman, former adviser of the caretaker government M Hafizuddin Khan and Senior Vice-President of Chittagong Chamber MA Salam attended the meet.

BDST: 1757HRS, JULY 24, 2010