Constitutional Council, president election dominate talks, no consensus reached
The BNP does not agree to the formation of the proposed NCC due to "lack of accountability", says BNP's Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed
Highlights
- BNP against formation of Constitutional Council
- Most others including NCP, Jamaat in favour
- Jammat joins dialogue after "CA's phone call"
- CPB, Gono Forum briefly walk out protesting "preferential treatment towards Jamaat"
- No consensus on president's election and powers as well
- Discussions to continue next week
The second day of the second round of the National Consensus Commission dialogue ended without much success but with a bit of drama.
The political parties could not reach an agreement on the two agenda of the day – the formation of National Constitutional Council (NCC) – with the BNP opposing the proposal. The debates on the president's election and powers also did not end.
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The Jamaat-e-Islami joined today's meeting after skipping the first day of the three-day round. The party said it decided to join following a phone call from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Gono Forum staged a brief walkout from the meeting, protesting what they claimed was preferential treatment towards Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
BNP against the NCC formation, most in favour
The BNP does not agree to the formation of the proposed NCC due to "lack of accountability", BNP's Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said after attending the dialogue between the National Consensus Commission and political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka today.
"The functions and responsibilities being proposed for the NCC are typically handled by the executive branch, or defined by law and constitutional provisions. It is unacceptable for a democratic party like the BNP to support the creation of a powerful body with no accountability," Salahuddin said.
He added that introducing such a body, separate from existing institutions, could destabilise the current balance of power.
Jamaat and National Citizen Party (NCP), on the other hand, expressed support for the formation of the Council.
"We believe there should be an institution to ensure constitutional balance," Jammat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said after joining the second day of the commission's second phase of discussions.
Describing the formation of the NCC as a step towards balancing power, National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam said, "Our journey towards a new Bangladesh aims to reduce the overwhelming power of the executive branch. That is why we support the formation of the NCC."
Acknowledging the differences among parties on the formation process of the council, saying, "Many parties have differing views on its structure. We also have some alternative proposals in this regard. However, in principle, a significant number of parties have taken a stand in favour of the NCC."
The July uprising leader lamented the lack of consensus [among the political parties], reminding attendees that opposition parties, during Sheikh Hasina's tenure, had pledged to restructure these institutions.
No consensus on president's election and power
Talks regarding the president's election and powers remain unresolved with parties harbouring different ideas.
On the issue of presidential elections, BNP leader Salahuddin said, "We believe the president should be elected by existing members of parliament and, if an upper house is created in the future, by its members as well."
The proposed structure of the NCC would include the president, the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, speakers of the lower and upper houses, the chief justice as members among others.
Jamaat was against including the president and the chief justice in the council. "We objected to the inclusion of the president and the chief justice in the NCC structure, as the body must have the authority to resolve disputes in the event of a deadlock," the party's Nayeb-e-Ameer Taher said.
Jamaat joined dialogue because 'CA called party chief'
The Jamaat-e-Islami joined yesterday's National Consensus Commission meeting after receiving a phone call from Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, said Taher.
"Yesterday afternoon, the chief adviser called our ameer and assured him that the government would act neutrally," he said while speaking to reporters.
He noted that Jamaat had earlier issued a statement objecting to certain aspects of the chief adviser's recent visit to London.
"The chief adviser went to London to receive an award and discuss repatriating laundered money. While there, he met with the acting chairman of a political party," he said.
"Instead of holding talks with all parties, he issued a joint statement with just one party. That was unprecedented and placed other parties in an awkward position. In doing so, the chief adviser compromised his neutrality," said the Jamaat leader.
He added that although the chief adviser had mentioned a potential election timeframe in his address to the nation, he could have revised it after speaking with all political parties.
Regarding the election timeline, Taher stated, "We don't have major objections to the proposed date. We're also not opposed to a February timeline, if certain conditions are met."
He further said, "We feel the commission is turning into a symbolic exercise that may ultimately prove fruitless – like much ado about nothing. So, as a form of symbolic protest, we didn't attend yesterday (Tuesday)."
On ensuring a level playing field ahead of the polls, Taher said, "The home affairs adviser said a level playing field already exists. But it seems he doesn't even understand what that means."
"When the government can't even unlock a simple office building, how can we expect a level playing field across 300 constituencies?" he questioned, apparently referring to the Nagar Bhaban blockade by BNP leader Ishraque Hossain.
CPB, Gono Forum stage walkout
Leaders of the CPB and Gono Forum staged a brief walkout from the Consensus Commission dialogue, protesting what they claimed was preferential treatment towards Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
About an hour into the discussion, CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince and Gono Forum General Secretary Mizanur Rahman exited the session in protest.
Following their exit, members of the National Consensus Commission, including Badiul Alam Majumdar and Monir Haider, special assistant to the chief adviser, came downstairs to persuade the leaders to return.
Speaking to reporters downstairs, Ruhin Hossain Prince said, "There is clear discrimination here. Three members of Jamaat have been allowed to speak, while our representative was obstructed when attempting to speak. When we protested, the Commission took note of it. That's why we are now returning to the dialogue."
The parties returned to the dialogue after ten minutes.
Commenting on the issue of Jamaat-e-Islami receiving more time during the dialogue, Ali Riaz, vice-chairman of the Commission, said, "There will occasionally be differences of opinion. All political parties are cooperating. Time isn't measured with a stopwatch, so naturally there will be some frustrations and protests. We have taken note of that."
Regarding the issue, Abdullah Mohammad Taher said Jamaat took more time as the party did not take part in the talks the previous day.
'Second-round talks created an opportunity to understand each other's positions'
Professor Ali Riaz said that the second phase of dialogue began precisely because of the differences of opinion in the initial discussions. In the first phase, political parties individually presented their positions. But in the second phase, a space for mutual dialogue has emerged.
He noted that in the second-round discussions, political parties are both expressing opinions and engaging in exchanges, which is helping the commission move forward.
He said the political parties broadly recognised the need for a constitutional institution to handle appointments to constitutional posts.
"Although one or two parties have some principled differences on the matter, there was general consensus on the need for such a framework," Riaz said.
He added that two proposals are on the table regarding the election of the President – one from the Constitutional Reform Commission and another from the Electoral System Reform Commission. There were also discussions about enhancing the President's powers to ensure a balance of power. These matters will continue to be discussed in future sessions.
