4 commission reports recommend key changes to set path for state, governance reforms

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus says he wants to proceed with the reform recommendations based on a national consensus

The reports from four of the six reform commissions established to suggest broad changes to state governance have proposed significant reforms.

These include imposing term limits on the prime minister, lowering the age for entering parliament to encourage youth participation, and amending major planks of the constitution.

The commissions, formed in the first phase of the interim government's initiative to repair the state, have recommended changes in governance, the national parliament, and election processes.

Receiving these reports, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus expressed his intent to move forward based on a national consensus.

After receiving detailed reports from the heads of the commissions on Wednesday, the interim government decided to extend the deadline for these commissions by one month to prepare a roadmap for implementing the reform proposals.

Out of the eleven commissions formed by the government for state reforms, four have submitted reports suggesting extensive changes to the constitution, parliament, and election systems.

While the BNP and like-minded parties emphasise quick elections over reforms, analysts remain sceptical about the implementation of such extensive changes.

However, Chief Advisor Yunus said he intends to complete essential reforms before the elections and leave the rest for future administrations to address as reflections of public aspiration.

On Wednesday, at the Tejgaon office of the chief advisor, Yunus received reports from commissions on electoral system reform, police reform, constitutional reform, and anti-corruption reform.

In his speech following the submission, Yunus said: "Since not everything can be accomplished before the elections, some tasks will remain. We must move forward in line with the charter for the mass uprising. We need to refine these recommendations and present them to the nation to establish consensus."

In 2024, following intense protests in July and August, the Awami League government fell.

Three days later, the interim government assumed power.

The interim government formed a total of 11 commissions in two phases to undertake various reforms.

The Electoral Reform Commission, the Police Reform Commission, the Constitutional Reform Corruption, and the Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Commission

The Electoral Reform Commission, the Police Reform Commission, the Judicial Reform Commission, the ACC Reform Commission, the Public Administration Reform Commission, and Constitutional Reform Commission were established in the first week of October.

The deadlines for submitting reports by the judicial reform and public administration reform commissions have been extended until Jan 31, while the other four commissions submitted their reports on Wednesday.

The Constitutional Reform Commission has recommended renaming the country’s constitutional title.

"In all applicable areas of the Constitution, the words Prajatantra and Ganaprajatantri Bangladesh will be replaced with Nagariktantra and Janaganatantri Bangladesh. However, the English version will retain the words 'Republic' and 'Peoples Republic of Bangladesh'."

The commission has also proposed retaining only democracy from the four original principles of the 1972 constitution, replacing nationalism, secularism, and socialism with new foundational principles: equality, human dignity, social justice, and pluralism.

It also introduced a two-term limit for the prime minister, reducing the term of the parliament and the presidency to four years, and establishing a bicameral legislature named National Assembly and Senate.

The commission also proposed increasing the number of parliamentary seats from 300 to 400.

To ensure a balance of power in the country's top positions, the constitutional reform commission suggested forming a National Constitutional Council, comprising the president, prime minister, leader of the opposition, speakers of both houses of parliament, two deputy speakers from the opposition, and one member of parliament from outside the government and opposition.

The reform proposals have recommended establishing a constitutional council responsible for overseeing the formation of the interim government and appointments to constitutional institutions.

The Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Commission has suggested 47 measures, including a constitutional commitment against power abuse, anti-corruption strategy formulation, establishment of an ombudsman, and the abolition of opportunities to legalise undeclared money.

The Electoral Reform Commission has laid about 150 recommendations aimed at making the “broken” election system “institutional and inclusive”, as well as bringing all stakeholders to accountability.

Police Reform Commission, in its report, has sought guidelines to limit the use of power by police during unlawful assemblies and processions, and directives regarding arrests without warrants and interrogations in custody.

It has also requested amendments and revisions to 22 laws to reform the police force.

Former secretary AKM Abdul Awal Majumder emphasised the significance of the government’s adoption of the reports over the commission’s proposals.

Majumder told bdnews24.com: "What the commission reports is not as critical as what the government adopts. In the past, numerous commissions have submitted reports, but many were not implemented by the government.

"The key is how much of it gets implemented. We will have to wait and see, especially when the government starts dialogue with political parties to understand what they will take forward and how they will implement it."

On the feasibility of implementing the recommendations, Majumder expressed optimism: "As this is an interim, non-political government, they will likely try to implement what they can. The rest will depend on the future political government."

Rights and development activist Khushi Kabir noted both positive aspects and problematic issues in the commission reports.

She told bdnews24.com, "Creating or amending the constitution without an elected government poses challenges. Hence, the implementation of recommendations will depend on the next elected government, which may or may not comply with them.

"The removal of secularism from the constitution’s principles, while retaining state religion, poses significant issues for minority groups."

Kabir suggested widespread discussions at all levels of the state to understand, implement, and foresee the practical implications of these recommendations.

The Constitutional Reform Commission has recommended the establishment of a bicameral legislature consisting of a National Assembly and a Senate, with a term of four years for both chambers.

In the lower house, out of 400 seats, 300 would be filled through parliamentary constituency elections.

The remaining 100 seats would be reserved for women, who would be directly elected from various constituencies.

The commission has also suggested that at least 10 percent of the total seats in the lower house be allocated to young candidates.

According to the recommendations, the upper house, or Senate, would have 100 members elected based on proportional representation from political parties that receive more than 1 percent of the votes. The president would nominate five non-political members.

The Electoral Reform Commission proposed that half of the seats won by each party should come from party members, while the other half should be filled from non-partisan representatives of civil society, academia, scientists, social workers, labour representatives, women's development activists, cultural figures, and marginalised groups.

Former secretary Abdul Awal emphasised the importance of electing qualified and honest individuals over the structure of the legislature, saying: “Whether it's a bicameral or unicameral system doesn't matter to me. What matters is whether capable and honest individuals are being elected.”

Awal supported the proposal for a 4-year term for the prime minister, president, and parliament, along with a two-term limit for the prime minister.

He advocated limiting family members from holding the prime minister's position consecutively, referencing Botswana and Mauritius, where family members cannot assume power within a set period.

Kushi Kabir, a rights activist, raised concerns about the feasibility of rotating 100 seats for women through elections, suggesting that practical implementation could be challenging under the current electoral system.

Kabir also expressed doubts about the impact of limiting the prime minister's term if the party leader retains influence over the prime minister.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir reiterated the party's call for swift reforms leading to elections, aligning with public expectations.

He said, “We have always been in favour of reforms and have long advocated for them. In 2016, we presented Vision 2030 for reforms, and in 2023, Tarique Rahman proposed 31 reform points after discussions with various political parties. Reform is an ongoing process.”

INTERIM GOVERNMENT'S THOUGHTS ON REFORM

The commissions tasked with reforming the state will be given another month to determine the next steps for the recommendations they have received, said Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan.

Highlighting the importance of consensus through discussions, Chief Advisor Yunus said after receiving four reports on Wednesday, "Our work is not complete by simply handing over a paper or a book. Our responsibility is to take this to the people."

“What you (reform commissions) are suggesting is not something people don't want. Therefore, it is essentially the voice of the people. We must communicate it in such a way that people can engage with it. Some will engage before the election, some after.”

Later, at a press conference in Dhaka, Rizwana said: “We believe we can prepare a roadmap within a month.”

The advisor added, "The commission heads will meet and decide the next course of action. They will determine where to prioritise.

“For this, a notification will be issued tomorrow [Thursday] extending the tenure of the six commissions by another month.”

Rizwana confirmed that the full reports of the six commissions will be published by Jan 31, and the government would implement the recommendations based on a consensus with political parties.

She said, "Since the commission heads have independently created the reports, they will now independently decide on the coordination.

“There are demands from political parties, as well as from the public, with some joint demands from both sides. We believe we can prepare a roadmap within a month.”

In response to a question about the government's mandate, Rizwana said: "Let’s not forget the context – this reform process began through a mass uprising.

“Now, if we are asked to follow a legal framework and act according to constitutional provisions, it will be difficult to endorse the aspirations of the mass uprising.

She continued, “The reform reports have been prepared reflecting the views of political parties, and their feedback has been incorporated into the proposals.

“However, these reports are not the final step. There will be further discussions, potentially in four or more phases.”

Rizwana said the next commission will be the Political Consensus Commission.

“The chief advisor will personally lead this commission, and decisions will be made based on political consensus.”

She added that political parties made their proposals because they believe reforms are necessary.

[Writing in English by Arshi Fatiha Quazi]