A Bangladesh Nationalist Party delegation on Tuesday participating in a state reform discussion with the National Consensus Commission said that the party agreed to equality, human dignity, and social justice as the fundamental principles of the constitution.
The BNP also agreed to the Constitution Reform Commission-proposed exclusion of the constitution鈥檚 Articles 8, 9, 10 and 12. 鈥楬owever, we have recommended replacing them with the articles as per the Fifth Amendment,鈥� said BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed.
Salahudding led the BNP delegation to the third meeting with the NCC at the LD Auditorium of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the capital Dhaka. NCC vice-chair Ali Riaz presided over the meeting.聽
The Fifth Amendment by the second parliament in April 1979 adopted 鈥榓bsolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah鈥� in Article 8, redefined 鈥榮ocialism鈥� by 鈥榚conomic and social justice鈥� in Article 9 and replaced socialism and freedom from exploitation with local government promotion and women鈥檚 participation in Article 10 and Article 12 was excluded.
Although disagreeing to the reform commission-proposed 鈥榩luralism鈥� as one of the fundamental constitution principles, the BNP delegation recommended a sentence 鈥� 鈥楤angladesh is a country of multiple ethnicities, multiple religions, multiple languages and multiple cultures where coexistence and proper dignity of all communities will be ensured鈥� to add to the fundamental principles part of the constitution.
The BNP delegation disagreed to the proposed decentralisation of the High Court. Salauhuddin said, 鈥榃e have proposed the appointment of chief justice from among the top three senior judges of the Supreme Court, considering the 鈥楧octrine of Necessity鈥�, and a National Judicial Council, like the Supreme Judicial Council, to check corruption and misconduct in the local courts.鈥�
After a prolonged discussion with the NCC, he said that his party agreed to a 505-member bicameral parliament but recommended the traditional electoral process for the 100 reserved seats for women.
Disagreeing to the reform commission鈥檚 relevant proposals, the BNP delegation recommended that a person may simultaneously hold the posts of prime minister, the parliament leader and the party chief.
They disagreed to the proposed electoral college method for electing the president and recommended that the president be elected by the members of the bicameral parliament, Salahuddin said.
Agreeing to the proposed interim government, the BNP delegation said in case the chief adviser dies or becomes disqualified, the next chief adviser may be chosen from among the advisory council.
Except for amending Articles 8, 48, 56 and 142 of the constitution, the BNP doesn鈥檛 think that a referendum is necessary when a two-thirds majority of the bicameral parliament approves any change in the constitution, Salahuddin said.聽
According to him, the BNP delegation strongly opposed the transformation of the Human Rights Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission as constitutional bodies.
鈥楬owever, we have proposed the enactment of a law for the establishment of a local government commission,鈥� Salahuddin said.
As part of participating in the state reform initiatives, the BNP delegation first sat in a dialogue with the NCC on April 17 and the second dialogue was held on April 20.
Responding to the NCC invitation for their opinions on the key reform proposals, the BNP provided its feedback on March 23.
Beginning on March 20, the NCC held dialogues on state reforms with at least 15 political parties till Tuesday.