Dhaka:Salahuddin Ahmed, the Home Minister and chief of the Special Committee on Reformation of Constitution, announced on Tuesday that discussions are open for opposition parties to join talks on constitutional reform. During a committee meeting, media representatives raised concerns about the proposed Upper House of Parliament and a 10-year limit on a prime minister's tenure.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the meeting included representatives from various media outlets who shared their perspectives on constitutional reform. Topics discussed included the caretaker government system, independence of the Election Commission and judiciary, separation of powers, freedom of the press, and strengthening constitutional institutions.
Salahuddin highlighted the media's emphasis on engaging the opposition in these discussions. He encouraged the opposition to submit names to join the constitutional amendment committee for participatory reform discussions.
Regarding the Upper House, questions were raised about its necessity given Bangladesh's unitary state structure. While the BNP agreed to a bicameral Parliament in the July National Charter, the proposal may be reconsidered by the government and political parties.
On the caretaker government issue, Salahuddin noted that no final decision has been made, with ongoing differences of opinion. He suggested leaving the matter to Parliament for consideration and invited public proposals on alternatives.
He also mentioned that the government aims to implement the July National Charter as agreed, but is open to discussing dissenting issues if the opposition joins the process. The proposal to limit a prime minister's tenure was debated, with concerns about its impact on democratic rights.
Participants stressed that constitutional amendments should be durable and involve all political parties to ensure broader acceptance. The need for a bicameral Parliament and its implications were also discussed, with plans for further stakeholder consultations.