Opposition leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman said assigning BNP members from reserved women’s seats additional responsibilities in opposition constituencies is completely unconstitutional. He made the remarks to journalists on Tuesday night after visiting the central office of the National Citizen Party, or NCP.

Rahman said the constitution contains no provision allowing members elected to reserved women’s seats to be given such additional responsibilities in opposition constituencies. He said there had also been no such practice in Bangladesh’s parliamentary democracy in the past. According to him, ministers have offered differing explanations when questioned about the appointments, making the government’s position less clear.

He also said the 50 women members from reserved seats were facing discriminatory treatment. While some allocation or funding arrangements were made after strong criticism in parliament, he described them as inadequate and said allocations should be equal for everyone. Rahman said a strong opposition is essential to a successful democratic state and that the current government bears the main responsibility for maintaining social stability.