‘You uphold the Constitution only where it benefits,’ says Hasnat in Parliament

Some members of Parliament tend to uphold the Constitution only where it serves their interests, said Cumilla-4 MP Hasnat Abdullah, criticising remarks made by fellow lawmaker Andalib Rahman Partho in parliament today (31 March).

He made the comments during a discussion on an adjournment motion of public importance in the fifth session of the Jatiya Sangsad.

Referring to Partho’s earlier speech, Hasnat said the MP had labelled those who question or seek to discard the Constitution as aligned with anti-independence forces, a claim that was endorsed by ministers from the treasury bench.

Hasnat argued that such a stance reflects a selective approach to constitutional adherence.

“They say they respect certain parts of the Constitution, which implies they do not respect other parts. This means they are adopting what is convenient and rejecting what is not,” he said.

He described the position as “opportunistic”, adding that one cannot simultaneously uphold and disregard the Constitution.

“How do we interpret such a position? At times conformist, at times reformist—ultimately, it is opportunistic. One cannot be both constitutional and unconstitutional at the same time,” he said.

Hasnat also referred to the “doctrine of necessity”, noting that with Articles 7A and 7B of the Constitution in force, there is no scope for compromise on its basic structure.

He further said that Articles 48(3) and 106, which relate to advisory jurisdiction, do not allow any deviation from the fundamental principles of the Constitution.

He added that if the Constitution is to be followed in its entirety, questions could also arise regarding the legitimacy of the interim government.