NCP ‘frustrated’ as BNP, Gono Forum resist proposed constitutional council

Party convenor describes the outcome as “deeply disappointing”, adding that NCC was a central component of the reform framework they submitted to the commission

The National Citizen Party (NCP) and the National Consensus Commission have expressed disappointment after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Gono Forum opposed the proposed formation of the National Constitutional Council (NCC).

The BNP and Gono Forum said the NCC, a body aimed at overseeing appointments to key state institutions, would create “another authoritarian institution” and “lack accountability”.

The comments were made on Wednesday during the third day of the second phase of the Consensus Commission’s dialogue with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy.

Following the meeting, the commission Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz said: “When we discussed the NCC, we found that while some parties had policy differences, most agreed that such a body is necessary. However, several parties still opposed it.”

NCP Convenor Nahid Islam described the outcome as “deeply disappointing”, adding that the NCC was a central component of the reform framework submitted by his party to the commission.

“We requested other political parties to come to a consensus in the national interest. Unfortunately, that did not happen,” he said.

NCP’S FRUSTRATION

Criticising the opposition, Nahid said institutions like the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Election Commission, and the National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh (NHRCB) have been politicised.

When in opposition, today’s ruling parties criticised these legal frameworks and called for reform.

“But in today’s discussions, those same parties did not offer any alternatives. Some even reversed their earlier positions on the NCC without explaining why.”

In Wednesday’s session, discussions ranged from Jamaat-e-Islami’s return to the dialogue, to Gono Forum and the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) briefly walking out over perceived “discrimination” before returning.

Ganosamhati Andolon’s Zonayed Saki also left the meeting around 4:30pm, following the earlier departure of Shahadat Hossain Selim, who cited personal reasons. Saki declined to comment on his decision.

The commission said discussions on the proposed council will resume next week.