Academics, civil society members and lawyers on Thursday stressed the need for ensuring a guarantee from the political parties to implement the National Charter after assuming power.
The political parties will betray again with the people if they are not brought under commitments and compelled to implement the National Charter, they said.
They came up with the observation at a dialogue titled 鈥楴ational Charter and citizen鈥檚 expectations鈥� organised by Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik at CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka.聽
The speakers also said that meaningful constitutional and institutional reforms must reflect the will, needs, and rights of the people.
They called for a comprehensive national consensus to ensure democratic governance, accountability, and protection of fundamental rights.
鈥楾he Constitution is a social contract between the state and its citizens. Any amendment to it must incorporate the people鈥檚 opinions and aspirations,鈥� Professor Ali Riaz, the vice-chairman of the National Consensus Commission, said.
He said that the NCC was working to prepare a National Charter by July, aiming to protect rights, establish checks and balances, and ensure functional state institutions in the country.
Noting that the NCC is working to build consensus on several fundamental reforms, he also said 鈥楽ome consensus has been reached with the political parties, while further dialogue with political parties is needed on other issues.鈥�
Through this charter, we are aiming to establish a contract between political parties and citizens so that the people can hold the parties accountable,鈥� he said.
NCC member Badiul Alam Majumdar said that the July Uprising鈥檚 goals are holding credible elections and democratic transition in the country.
He emphasised on reforms in the electoral system, the passage of laws through ordinances, and restructuring political parties to pave the way for holding a fair and quick election.
He also proposed a proportional upper house, prevention of one individual at three posts, the posts of the prime minister, the leader in parliament and the party chief, and direct election opportunities for women in 100 rotating seats.
Another NCC member Iftekharuzzaman warned that corruption might obstruct reform efforts.
Noting that corruption helped to make a government authoritarian in the past, he said that political parties had shown agreement on anti-corruption reform proposals this time.
Iftekharuzzaman also said that citizen awareness and activism were essential to establish rights and transparency in government activities.
Another NCC member Safar Raj Hossain criticised past laws that restricted fundamental rights of people.
He suggested introducing a 鈥榬ecall鈥� system to remove elected lawmakers in case of facing corruption allegations.
Chief adviser鈥檚 special assistant Monir Haidar stressed the need for reforming the colonial-era bureaucratic and policing laws, and advocated for strengthening local government institutions.
He suggested to make at least 30 per cent nomination for women mandatory for political parties and safeguarding voting rights for expatriates.
Monir also said that scopes should be kept for people having dual citizenship to become candidates in elections.
Noting that structural reform alone is not enough, Dhaka University鈥檚 Professor Robaet Ferdous said, 鈥榃ithout a change in political culture, the balance of power cannot be effectively established in the country.鈥�
Expressing frustration, he said 鈥榃e cannot become much hopeful as there is no improvement of the situation in the 10 months the government.鈥�
Stressing the need for a guarantee for implementing the National Charter by the political parties, he also said that the political parties had made many commitments in the past but they did not fulfill them.
SHUJAN acting president and retried justice MA Matin who presided over the event urged the citizens to push for the immediate implementation of the recommendations of reform commissions, especially those related to fundamental rights.
