A total of 19 fundamental reform issues were decided amid political consensus and notes of dissent in some cases during the second-round dialogues between the National Consensus Commission and political parties.
The second-round reform dialogue, opened by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on June 02 last, concluded on Thursday night.
The 19 important agreed issues include the caretaker government, Prime Minister’s tenure, holding more than one office by the Prime Minister, fundamental principles of the State, a bicameral parliament (Upper House and Lower House), women representation in Parliament, expansion of fundamental rights, Article 70 of the Constitution, chairmanship of parliamentary standing committees, delimitation of constituencies, provision regarding presidential clemency, decentralisation of the judiciary, declaration of a state of emergency, appointment of the Chief Justice and amendment of the Constitution.
The decided issues are the presidential election, the president’s authority and responsibility, the establishment of an independent police commission and the appointment process to the key posts of five important institutions –Election Commission, Public Service Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, the Comptroller and Auditor General and Ombudsman.
“In the second-round dialogues with the political parties, decisions were taken on a total of 19 issues based on discussion and consensus. Among them, some issues, including notes of dissent from some parties, were accepted,” said NCC vice chair Prof Ali Riaz on Thursday night.
“All the agreed issues will be incorporated in the July National Charter,” he told reporters during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy following the 23rd day of the second-round dialogue.
Reform dialogue: Consensus on presidential election
Prof Riaz said the issues adopted some with note(s) of dissent including proposals for amending Article 70 of the Constitution, enhancing women’s representation, decentralising the judiciary and Supreme Court, barring the Prime Minister from holding multiple offices, and enshrining constitutional provisions regarding appointments to the Public Service Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General and Ombudsman.
Other agreed matters included the formation of an Upper House, the presidential election system, enhancing the presidential powers and responsibility, the caretaker government system and the fundamental principles of state.
He said the highest number of dissenting notes came regarding the proposal to increase women’s representation.
Prof Riaz said Bangladesh JASAD, BSD (Marxist), and Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) submitted notes of dissent and walked out of the session over the state’s fundamental principles.
Ganoforum, however, submitted a dissenting opinion on the matter but did not walk out.
The NCC Vice Chair urged the parties to first engage in intra-party discussions to implement the agreed issues, and assured them that it would continue to play a catalytic role.
Political consensus on women’s representation; presidency empowerment idea floated: Ali Riaz
“The Commission will sit again with the parties at an appropriate time,” he added.
More than 30 political parties and alliances, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party-NCP took part in the second-round dialogue that was wrapped up on Thursday.