What's in BNP's Reform Proposal

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has finalized a set of constitutional reform proposals, including the reforming of the constitution, the election commission, and the police force.

 

These proposals will soon be submitted by the party (BNP) to the Constitutional Reform Commission led by Professor Ali Riaz.

They laid emphasis on three key issues – a bicameral parliament, restoration of the caretaker government system, limiting an individual to two terms as prime minister, and balancing power between the prime minister and the president. The constitution reform proposals will soon be submitted to the reform commission chief, Ali Riaz.

 

The decision was made in a meeting of the party's highest policy-making body, the national standing committee, on Thursday (November 21) night. The BNP leaders discussed updates on the party's internal reform committees, in addition to the interim government's reform commissions.

 

The meeting was held (virtually) at the chairperson's political office in Gulshan under the chairmanship of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

According to responsible sources, the party is preparing its proposals for institutional reforms in the light of its previously announced 31-point reform plan. The plan includes reintroducing the caretaker government system, and balancing powers between the prime minister and president, in addition to a bicameral parliament and term limit in the position of prime minister.

 

Besides, BNP's constitution reform committee proposed to enshrine equality, human dignity, and justice as core principles of the constitution. There will also be a proposal to refrain from adopting the proportional representation system in elections.

The party leaders are yet to make any official statements in this regard.

 

Earlier, the Constitutional Reform Commission led by Professor Ali Riaz requested political parties to send written proposals for constitutional reform. This commission has already started exchanging views with prominent citizens and other stakeholders. The commission has given an opportunity to interested individuals or organizations to submit suggestions, opinions, and proposals on constitutional reform until November 25. After that, they will sit in dialogue with political parties.

In line with the reform commissions, the BNP also formed six committees to prepare reform proposals on the constitution, election commission, police, public administration, judiciary, and anti-corruption commission.

 

The police reform committee, led by standing committee member Maj (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, has already submitted its report to the party high-ups, while proposals for constitution and election commission reforms are near completion. The following two committees are led by Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Abdul Moyeen Khan, respectively.

According to sources, the reports or reform proposals prepared by the committees will be submitted to respective reform commissions, as directed by the interim government.

 

Besides, the standing committee suggested forming two additional reform committees on local government and women's affairs, with standing committee members Mirza Abbas and Selima Rahman, respectively, as their chiefs.

According to relevant sources, the reports or proposals prepared by the BNP reform committees will be submitted to the six reform commissions formed by the government.

Earlier, the interim government formed six reform commissions on various issues including the electoral system on September 11. The reports of these commissions are scheduled to be submitted to the government by December 31.

Apart from this, the reports of the Constitution Reform and Election Commission Reform Committees are also said to be almost final. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Abdul Moin Khan are the heads of these two committees respectively.

Apart from this, the standing committee meeting suggested forming two more reform committees on local government and women's affairs. One of them discussed making Mirza Abbas a member of the standing committee and Selima Rahman the convener of the other.

According to relevant sources, the reports or proposals prepared by the BNP reform committees will be submitted to the six reform commissions formed by the government.

Earlier, the interim government formed six reform commissions on various issues including the electoral system on September 11. The reports of these commissions are scheduled to be submitted to the government by December 31.

In this situation, a new five-member election commission was formed on Thursday (November 21) amid various reform discussions. Former secretary AMM Md Nasir Uddin was appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and former Additional Secretary Anwarul Islam Sarkar, former District and Sessions Judge Abdur Rahman Masud, former Joint Secretary Begum Tahmida Ahmed, and Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah were appointed as Election Commissioner (EC). If all goes well, they will take oath on Sunday (November 24) afternoon. Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed will administer their oath.

Leaders of political parties are already considering the formation of this commission as a major step towards the elections.

Meanwhile, BNP is holding nationwide campaigns to earn public support in favor of their 31-point plan. They also want to keep the government under pressure through the programs.