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Since political parties will contest elections and govern the country, reaching a consensus among them is crucial, he says
Published : 14 Feb 2025, 01:40 AM
As a fierce debate rages on about whether the general election should take place after fully implementing reforms or following some essential changes, the Constitutional Reform Commission head Ali Riaz says the extent of reforms depends on the political parties.
He emphasises that the primary task now is for political parties to reach a consensus to implement the commission's recommendations.
Speaking at a press conference at LD Hall of the Parliament on Thursday, he said: "Since political parties will contest elections and run the country, their consensus is essential. This must be ensured first."
Members of the Constitutional Reform Commission were also present at the event.
Meanwhile, a notification has been issued to form a National Consensus Commission, which will commence work on Feb 15. The work of six reform commissions has already been completed.
The seven-strong Consensus Commission headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has Riaz as its vice-chairman.
After the Awami League government was ousted by a mass movement on Aug 5, 2024, the interim government formed six reform commissions to guide the country’s democratic transition.
In October, commissions were established to reform the constitution, judiciary, electoral system, public administration, Anti-Corruption Commission, and police. Their full reports were published on Feb 8.
Even before the reports were released, the BNP had become vocal about holding elections, arguing that necessary reforms could be completed in time for a mid-2024 election.
But, Jamaat-e-Islami and the student leaders who led the movement against the Awami League government insist that elections should be held only after the full implementation of reforms.
Against this backdrop, ahead of the Consensus Commission's work on reform proposals, Ali Riaz said on Thursday: “The goal of the Consensus Commission is to create a ‘National Charter’ that most political parties can agree on, outlining the commitments they will uphold in the future. I believe we can reach that point.”
‘REFORM PROPOSALS ARE INTERCONNECTED, POLITICAL CONSENSUS ESSENTIAL’
The recommendations of the Constitutional Reform Commission are interconnected, said Ali Riaz. While some scaling down might be possible, completely discarding any part of the reforms is nearly impossible.
He emphasised that the key priority is establishing a political consensus before any future election—whenever it may be. Political parties must commit to these reforms, ensuring that even if a party is unable to enter parliament, it still bears responsibility for advancing the reforms.
Riaz reiterated that the extent of reforms will ultimately depend on political parties. "We have proposed significant structural changes, which first require a national consensus. Since political parties will contest elections and run the country, it is essential for them to agree on these reforms first," he said.
He added that once consensus is reached, parties must decide whether to implement the reforms immediately, after the election, in the new parliament, or through a referendum.
NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL
Outlining key recommendations, Riaz said the commission has suggested strengthening existing institutions and establishing new ones to prevent the centralisation of power. One such proposal is the formation of a National Constitutional Council, or NCC.
To curb the excessive powers of the prime minister, the commission has recommended various measures, including preventing the head of government from holding multiple positions and ensuring greater accountability to their own party’s lawmakers by amending Article 70.
He also highlighted proposals aimed at ensuring judicial independence and protecting citizens’ right to justice.
"We have emphasised the expansion of citizens’ rights and considered the state’s accountability in enforcing them as a crucial factor," Riaz said.
SEVEN KEY REFORM PRIORITIES
The commission focused on seven major areas to ensure a functioning democracy, fundamental human rights, and accountability:
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE REFORM PROCESS
The commission sought extensive public input alongside its review of the existing constitution. From the second week of November, it began collecting opinions from various stakeholders.
Through its website, 50,573 individuals submitted their opinions. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics gathered responses from 45,925 households across 64 districts.
At the commission’s request, 25 political parties and three political alliances provided written feedback.
In addition, 99 representatives from 43 civil society organisations participated in discussions, with 25 organisations submitting written statements. A further 29 organisations voluntarily shared their views.
The commission also consulted with seven constitutional experts, two of whom submitted written analyses. On top of that, 37 civil society members contributed their insights upon invitation, with 20 providing written statements.
Beyond these engagements, 34 individuals submitted their opinions via email or in person at the commission’s office.
Riaz stressed that this broad participation from political parties, organisations, and individuals has ensured comprehensive public engagement in shaping the constitutional reform recommendations.
He explained that the commission's proposals are based on a thorough review of the existing constitution, stakeholder input, and the expertise of commission members.
The five-volume report includes stakeholder feedback, survey results, and a summary of website submissions in its second to fifth volumes.
