Fascism may return if polls held without reforms: JSD

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) has expressed fears that the past fascism is likely to return, if the next election is held without necessary reforms to the existing system.

"If we move towards a new regime (through an election) on the existing system without restructuring it, there will be a possibility of the old order (fascism) returning," JSD general secretary Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan said during a dialogue with the National Consensus Commission today (27 April). 

An eight-member JSD delegation, led by Swapan, took part in the talks held at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad complex in the afternoon.

National Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Prof Ali Riaz presided over the session.

Swapan said it is not possible to build a new Bangladesh on the foundation of the existing political arrangement, stressing that structural reforms in the governance system are essential.

He said a past fascist regime had used this very system to establish authoritarian rule—killing people, depriving them of their rights, looting public wealth, setting up Aynaghar (secret prisons), and destroying all state institutions. 

"The state's structure now stands at its lowest point," he added.

Welcoming the initiative to formulate a national charter, he said, "The steps taken to prepare the National Charter will serve as a historic document for the present and generations."

"Whatever consensus we reach now can be implemented. But the future generation will also be able to use the charter as a guide to rebuild the state," he added.

He underscored the need for preparing the national charter based on a minimum consensus among all political parties.

JSD agreed with 119 out of 166 reform proposals of the National Consensus Commission.

The party partially agreed with 27 others and disagreed with the 17 proposals.

Besides, JSD made no comment over the remaining three proposals.

Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Monir Haider.

The JSD delegation members included its senior vice president Tania Rob, vice presidents Siraj Miah, Sanowar Hossain Talukder, KM Kabir and Towhid Hossain and joint general secretary Kamal Uddin Patwary.

On 20 March, the Consensus Commission opened a series of talks with political parties to forge a national consensus on state reform initiatives.

The commission has already held talks with 18 political parties, including BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP).

Formed on 15 February, under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Commission was tasked with shaping a unified national stance on critical reforms.