The youth-led National Citizen Party on Tuesday, in a meeting with the National Consensus Commission, placed a framework for the basic reforms and announced that it would accept national elections by December or ‘anytime’ if there is visible progress in implementing the reform framework and trying the Awami League.
The NCP delegation, led by party member-secretary Akhtar Hossain, submitted the framework during a dialogue held at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad in the capital Dhaka.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Akhtar said the party placed the proposal amid confusions and uncertainties among political parties over the ongoing reform initiatives.
‘We believe that the state must implement a framework of basic reforms to prevent any re-emergence of fascist or autocratic regimes,’ Akhtar said.
He added that the framework focused on ensuring a balance of power, accountability, and decentralisation.
The framework proposed maintaining transparency of the executive body through a proposed national constitutional council, a bicameral Jatiya Sangsad to oversee crucial policymaking, constitutional guarantees for the right to information and citizens’ right to recall elected representatives at both national and local levels.
The framework also suggested a shadow cabinet by opposition parties and the opposition lawmakers-led parliamentary standing committees, particularly for the ministries dealing with home affairs, public administration, planning, and public accounts.
The NCP backed the Constitution Reform Commission’s proposal allowing referendums on Jatiya Sangsad decisions passed by a two-thirds majority.
However, it suggested that such referendums should be mandatory when decisions will concern amendments to the constitution’s preamble, fundamental principles, fundamental rights, electoral system, judicial independence, or executive powers.
Asked about the role of a shadow cabinet alongside the parliamentary standing committees, and how the framework would be implemented given its reliance on constitutional reforms, Akhtar said the party has not yet completed discussions on those issues with the commission.
‘We haven’t yet discussed the peaceful transfer of power, police reforms, or a road map to implement the proposed reforms. We will present separate frameworks on these issues soon,’ he said.
The NCP chief organiser for the northern region, Sarjis Alam, joint convener Sarwar Tushar, and central leaders Javed Rusin and Arman Hossain were also present in the dialogue.Â
At the beginning of the dialogue, NCC vice-chair Ali Riaz said the commission aims to complete the first phase of its discussions with political parties by May 15.
The Nagorik Oikya and the Islami Andolan Bangladesh (Charmonai) are scheduled to meet the commission today. Since March 20, the commission has held dialogues with 24 political parties.
These dialogues have primarily focused on reform recommendations made by the interim government-formed commissions on the constitution, judiciary, electoral process, public administration, police, and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The final reports from the reform commissions on women’s affairs, the health sector, labour, local government, and media have also meanwhile been submitted.
However, Ali Riaz clarified that the NCC will not deliberate on the proposals from these five commissions.
