The government plans to bring major changes to the constitution to restore the spirit of the Liberation War, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said yesterday.

The same day ruling Awami League General Secretary and LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam said the government may move to forge a national consensus on whether to do away with the caretaker government system and curtail the tenure of parliament.

Talking to reporters after meeting the German ambassador in Dhaka at his secretariat office, Shafique Ahmed said his ministry is going to ask the Law Commission to make recommendations to revive some major features of the 1972 constitution.

Secularism and Bangalee nationalism were among the lofty beliefs for which the nation fought the occupation forces in 1971, he observed.

But during the military regimes, he added, provisions enshrining those principles were deleted from the constitution. Islam was made state religion and restriction on religion-based politics lifted.

The law minister noted the original provisions need to be restored for good governance and democracy to take root.

"The constitution has been altered through martial law proclamations at different times, and we have been far removed from the ideals of the great Liberation War."

Replying to a query, Shafique said the Law Commission will examine how the constitution was distorted over the years.

He said German Ambassador Holger Michael has offered financial assistance for the government to reform the country's laws.

The law minister however said everything regarding the constitutional amendments would be done in line with the Law Commission's recommendations.

Sources said the law ministry has already drafted a letter asking the commission to make recommendations for an update of the constitution.

The letter will be issued within a few days, added the sources.

SYED ASHRAF

Speaking to newsmen at his office, LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam said the government would not amend the constitution unilaterally to decide the fate of the caretaker government system and tenure of parliament.

Rather, he added, it will try to reach a consensus on the matters.

The AL general secretary said the caretaker system was thrown into question during the times of Iajuddin Ahmed and Fakhruddin Ahmed, as the three-month tenure was stretched to over two years.

In the wake of the controversy, many political analysts advise re-examination of the caretaker government system.

Ashraf said there was a consensus over constitutional amendment in the past, and that same might happen again is not too great an expectation.

Citing examples of different countries, the minister said updating the constitution is good for democracy.