All parties agree on amending presidential election clause: Ali Riaz
No agreement has been reached regarding the tenure of the prime minister, he says
Vice-Chair of the National Consensus Commission Ali Riaz today (19 June) said all political parties have agreed on the need to amend the Constitution to change the process of electing the president.
Watch: What BNP says after consensus talks
"However, no consensus has yet been reached on what the new process should look like," Ali Riaz said while briefing journalists at the conclusion of the Commission's second-phase discussions, held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
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He said there is unanimous support for amending Article 48(1) of the Constitution, which currently stipulates that the president is elected by Members of Parliament.
"Everyone wants to change the existing electoral process. But almost all proposed alternatives are linked to the establishment of a bicameral legislature. So, a decision on the legislature must come first," he said.
"There are discussions around whether an Electoral College of 500 votes will be formed, or whether representatives from district councils and city corporations will be included," Ali Riaz explained, adding, "Many of these details hinge on whether or not the legislature will become bicameral. To finalise the presidential election process, the issue of the legislature must be settled first."
Article 48(1) of the Constitution states, "There shall be a President of Bangladesh who shall be elected by the members of Parliament in accordance with law."
Riaz also mentioned that no agreement has been reached regarding the tenure of the prime minister. "There has been discussion about whether someone can serve two consecutive terms and then be disqualified, or whether they may return after a break of one or two terms. But no decision has been reached yet," he said.
Further discussions with political parties will resume at 10:30am on 22 June, focusing on unresolved issues, he said.
Ali Riaz said party representatives would have time over the coming days to consult with their policymaking committees regarding matters discussed so far.
