Speaker: Constitution meaningful if benefits reach the poor

Speaker of parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Wednesday stressed the need for making the constitution meaningful to all by ensuring that its benefits reached the deprived sections of society.

 “The Constitution would be meaningful to all if its benefits can rneach the deprived people, putting smiles on the faces of distressed men,” she said while addressing a virtual discussion to mark the 49th Constitution Day.

The speaker said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman presented the world’s best, unique constitution to the nation after independence.  

She said all will have to engage themselves, with a vow to build a “Sonar Bangla” in line with Bangabandhu’s political and economic philosophy as in the constitution.

The discussion, titled “Political Philosophy of Bangabandhu and the constitution of 1972,” was presided over by Khandkar Abdul Mannan, said a parliament handout.

Dr Shirinsaid Bangabandhu clearly mentioned four basic principles of the constitution -- nationalism, democracy, socialism and secularism. “His [Bangabandhu’s] philosophy was to bring smile on the faces of distressed people,” she added.

Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee President Shahriar Kabir, JusticeAHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik and Legal Affairs Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Advocate Kazi Nazibullah Hiru, among others, spoke at the function moderated by advocate Azharullah Bhuiyan.

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and lawyers of the Supreme Court were connected to the discussion virtually.