Reform to all laws crucial to ensure transparency, BNP tells Consensus Commission

The BNP wants reforms to all existing laws to strengthen transparency and accountability, the party's senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed said at the ongoing dialogue between political parties and the National Consensus Commission.

"The BNP's stance regarding the formation of appointment committees in constitutional and statutory bodies remains unchanged," he said at the dialogue chaired by NCC's Vice Chairman Prof Ali Riaz today (29 June).

Salahuddin, a Standing Committee member of the BNP, also highlighted that all existing laws related to statutory institutions need to be amended so that they can function in line with public aspirations.

Regarding the structure of the House, Salahuddin reiterated the BNP's previous proposal for a bicameral parliament. "Distribution of the 100-member parliament lower house will be conducted on the basis of winning seats. However, consensus regarding the formation process has not been reached yet.

"The BNP agrees with the commission's proposal regarding the existing system of elections to the lower house," added Salahuddin.

The BNP leader further said his party showed the utmost sincerity regarding the declaration of the July Charter, and had agreed on various proposals of reform commissions, such as Article 70, the tenure limit for the prime minister's position, and secret balloting in the presidential election.

He said if the BNP is compelled to agree on all proposals by the reform commissions, it will be an unfair act. 

Presidium Member of the Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), Prof Ashraf Ali, said they recommend that the chiefs of the three services—Army, Navy and Air Force, along with the heads of DB and DGFI, are appointed by the appointment committee for constitutional and statutory bodies.

He said the absence of a proportional representational (PR) electoral system in the lower house of the parliament could potentially pave the way for a recurrence of fascism.