Published : 26 Jun 2025, 04:04 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 01:26 PM
The BNP has made clear it will not accept any constitutional structure that interferes with executive authority, including the proposed appointments committee for constitutional and statutory bodies, a rebranded version of the National Constitutional Council (NCC).
On Wednesday, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the party remains opposed to a 10-year cap on the prime minister’s tenure and has yet to reach a consensus with the National Consensus Commission on the issue.
“We will not accept any proposal that allows a body, such as the NCC, to interfere in the functions of the executive branch,” Salahuddin said.
“The matter of the prime minister's tenure also remains unresolved -- we are yet to reach a consensus.”
The day’s discussions focused on three key issues: the fundamental principles of the constitution, the proposed appointments committee, and the term limit for the prime minister.
According to Salahuddin, the commission, which is holding a second round of dialogues with political parties, suggested modifying the constitution’s guiding principles to include equality, human dignity, social justice, democracy, and religious freedom.
Although BNP showed interest in including these values along with provisions from the Fifth Amendment, no consensus was reached.
The proposed appointments committee would include the prime minister, speakers of both houses of parliament, the leader of the opposition, a representative from non-main opposition parties, a presidential nominee, and a judge nominated by the chief justice.
Notably, it excludes the chiefs of the armed forces and the attorney general, who were part of the NCC.
BNP rejected the idea of forming such a body through a constitutional amendment and instead proposed reforms to existing appointment laws, including the use of a search committee established via executive order.
“Checks and balances can be achieved through strong laws, proper oversight, and a functioning search committee,” said Salahuddin. “Simply weakening the executive cannot lead to good governance.”
He reiterated the BNP’s call for an independent judiciary, a free media, a transparent Anti-Corruption Commission, and free elections under a non-partisan caretaker government to ensure democratic accountability.
