People’s opinions, hopes must be reflected in constitutional amendment: Ali Riaz

Any constitutional amendment should reflect the people's opinions and aspirations, said National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz today (29 May).

"The constitution is a kind of social contract through which the state ensures the security of its citizens, and citizens agree to follow the rules of the state," he added.

He made these remarks at a roundtable titled "National Charter and Citizens' Expectations," organised by Citizens for Good Governance (Shujan) at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific auditorium in the capital.

Ali Riaz said the commission is working to build agreement on key reforms. "We have already reached consensus on some issues, but more discussions with political parties are needed on others.

"We hope that by July, we can prepare a national charter that will protect citizens' rights, create a balance of power, and strengthen state institutions," he said.

He added that the charter aims to form an agreement between citizens and political parties, ensuring that political parties remain accountable to the people.

Justice MA Matin highlighted the complexity of democracy, saying, "Peaceful transfer of power through elections is important, but it's not the only part of democracy. History shows that in Germany and Czechoslovakia, dictators came to power through elections."

"Government-formed reform commissions have worked hard to submit reports that include recommendations to protect fundamental rights. Now, it's time for everyone, including civil society, to step forward," he added.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Shujan, recalled the spirit of the July uprising, saying, "A key goal of the July uprising was to ensure fair elections and a democratic transition. To achieve this, the Election Commission, political parties, and civil society must play active roles."

"This is the right time to build consensus on some essential reforms and pass laws through ordinances," he added.

Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, said, "Without curbing corruption, it is not possible to implement the recommendations of the National Consensus Commission."

"It is encouraging that political parties have, in principle, accepted the recommendations of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Reform Commission," he added, urging citizens to speak up for their rights.

Safar Raj Hossain, chairman of the Police Administration Reform Commission, said, "In the past, various laws have been used to restrict fundamental rights. But the state must now be committed to ensuring those rights."

He also proposed introducing a 'recall' system to allow the removal of elected parliament members if credible allegations are made against them.

Monir Haider, special assistant (consensus building) to the chief adviser, pointed out outdated systems, saying, "Our police and bureaucratic systems still operate under laws made during the colonial era. That's why we need major reforms."

Stressing the importance of women's participation in politics, he said, "To empower women politically, political parties must be pressured to nominate women for at least 30% of the seats.

"We also need to take the necessary steps to ensure voting rights for expatriates. If even half of the proposed reforms are implemented, Bangladesh will be transformed," he added.

Robaet Ferdous, professor of Mass Media and Journalism at the University of Dhaka, reminded everyone that structural changes alone are not enough. "Without changing the political culture, we can't achieve a balance of power just by making structural changes," he said.