Law minister Moudud Ahmed announced the decision at a meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry in face of a barrage of protests from political parties, local government representatives and even his fellow ruling alliance lawmakers.

"The decision to withdraw the provision to amend the Article 59 of the constitution related to local government was taken in consultation with the prime minister and the minister for local government and rural development,'' Moudud told the meeting.

The proposed provision sought to empower the government to appoint one of the members of an elected local government body as its interim administrator for the period between expiry of its term and holding of fresh elections. The provision previously had proposed for a government-appointed bureaucrat to take charge as the interim administrator.

The proposal, in both the forms, drew widespread castigation and flakes from all quarters concerned.

Finally, the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) committee asked the ministry to change the proposed provision, terming it contradictory to the constitution.

The other proposed provisions of the amendment bill however remain unchanged -- as placed before the House on April 28 -- as the government did not agree to go for further changes. The provisions include 45 reserved seats for women in parliament, obligatory displaying of portraits of the president and the prime minister at government offices, and extension of retirement age of Supreme Court justices, chairman and members of Public Service Commission and the comptroller and auditor general.

After scrutinising the bill, the JS body yesterday evening finalised its report on it, which will be submitted to parliament tomorrow. The bill is likely to be passed on May 16.

The committee rejected some proposals placed by opposition lawmakers Abdul Kader Siddiqui and Golam Mohammad Kader. They had asked to withdraw the provisions for displaying portraits of the president and the prime minister at government offices and extension of retirement age of Supreme Court justices and to introduce direct election system to the reserved seats for women in parliament.

Opposing the provision for extending the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, Jatiya Party (Ershad) lawmaker GM Kader said at the meeting, "The government is extending their service age from an intention to install their favoured man as the chief of the next caretaker government. So, the next national elections is bound to be controversial."

He also opposed the provision for obligatory display of portraits of the president and the prime minister at government offices.

"It is not necessary to amend the constitution to display the portraits. The government can do it easily by an executive order. But they are doing this with an ill political motive -- so that if Awami League comes to power it cannot display the portrait of Bangabandhu without amending the constitution," he told The Daily Star as saying at the meeting.

Abdul Kader Siddiqui of Krishak Sramik Janata League echoed Kader's view and demanded the same. But the law minister turned down their proposals.

In an earlier meeting, Chief Whip Khandakar Delwar Hossain also opposed the provision of displaying portraits of the president and the prime minister through a constitution amendment. He, too, favoured an ordinary law to this end.

Committee Chairman Khandakar Mahbub Uddin Ahmed told The Daily Star that a law would be enacted to implement the provision for reserved seats for women in parliament.

Lawmakers of the main opposition Awami League did not join the yesterday's discussion on the bill, though they were invited to.

Committee members and officials concerned were present at the meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.