Dhaka, Aug. 31 -- The government and the opposition on Sunday locked horns over the chairmanship of parliamentary standing committees, with the opposition refusing to nominate members to the special committee formed for constitutional amendments.

The opposition demanded that it be given chairmanships of 26 percent of parliamentary standing committees in proportion to its strength in Parliament, in line with the July National Charter.

The ruling party, however, said the opposition would not be given chairmanships of ministry-related parliamentary standing committees unless it first joins the special committee on constitutional amendments.

The positions emerged during an unscheduled discussion in Parliament after the Magrib recess, promp...