How Jamaat, other parties react to NCC revision

Responding to the National Consensus Commission's revised proposal on the National Constitutional Council (NCC), Rafiqul Islam Khan, assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, said most parties agree with the National Consensus Commission's updated proposal on the National Constitutional Council (NCC), especially about the Fifth Amendment. 

He said most parties, except the BNP, also agree on the proposed appointment committee.

According to the commission's changed proposal, the name of the authority will be "Appointment Committee for Constitutional and Statutory Institutions" instead of the National Constitutional Council (NCC). And the president and the chief justice would not be the committee members unlike NCC. 

Mujibur Rahman Monju of the AB Party said, "Previously, whoever Sheikh Hasina wanted was made the ACC chairman or the chief election commissioner. But now, in discussions about change, many are supporting fascist rules."

Akhtar Hossain, member secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), said, "The Commission has shifted from its earlier proposal based on equality, human dignity, and social justice, and has now added democracy, religious freedom, and harmony. We believe that the principles of 1972 and those of the Fifth Amendment reflect partisan interests. Therefore, we think the original principles of the 1972 Constitution should be replaced with a new set."

He added, "There should be a neutral body to handle such appointments. This committee was previously referred to as the NCC, but today the Commission has proposed a new name and introduced structural changes. We have no objection to the name change."

He further stated, "Some parties are not aligned with the aspirations of the people. They remain tightly bound to the old system. Today's discussion was unnecessarily prolonged. The BNP and its like-minded allies oppose this idea. We must ensure that in the future, the state structure does not end up under the control of a single individual."

Professor Ashraf Ali, a praesidium member of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, said that the number of constitutional and statutory bodies to be brought under the appointment committee must be clearly defined. 

"We have also demanded the appointment of the army chief. If the attorney general is appointed on a partisan basis, the opposition will never receive fair justice," he said.

The party's spokesperson, Gazi Ataur Rahman, added, "Our leftist brothers remain rigid on the 1972 Constitution's principles, just like the Awami League. Some political parties that were aligned with BAKSAL back in the day now appear to be the ones most inflexible about the basic principles."

On behalf of the six-party alliance, Ganatantra Mancha, Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu said, "We have always advocated for state principles that include equality, human dignity, social justice, and religious freedom. Now they have added democracy and religious neutrality. We have no disagreement with the BNP on these issues."