Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP
Date: 19 December, 2022
The ownership of the state that the people of Bangladesh established with the objective of democracy, equality, human dignity, and social justice, through a war of liberation for a sea of blood is no more in their hands. The current authoritarian government has totally shattered the structure of the state of Bangladesh. The state has to be repaired and rebuilt. With the aim of returning the ownership of the country back to its people, a ‘Public- welfare government of national consensus’ will be established with all the political parties participating in the ongoing mass movement, after winning a free, fair, credible and participatory election.
The ‘National Government’ will undertake the following transformative reform measures.
- Over more than a decade the illegal Awami League government has irrationally brought about many illogical amendments to the basic structure of the constitution with the evil intention of clinging to state power. A ‘Constitution Reforms Commission’ will be formed to repeal/ amend all controversial and undemocratic constitutional amendments and changes after proper review. Democratic rights of the people shall be re-established through revival of ‘referendum’ in the constitution.
- An inclusive and egalitarian ‘Rainbow Nation’ as opposed to the spirit of vengeance shall be established based on Bangladeshi nationalism through amalgamation of diverse views and paths. To achieve this, a new forward-looking ‘Social Contract’ is a must through continuous dialogue, exchange of views and mutual understanding. A ‘National Reconciliation Commission’ shall be formed in this regard.
- In order to restore democracy and right to vote and give democratic process a permanent, constitutional and institutional shape, a ‘Poll-time non-partisan caretaker government system’ will be introduced.
- A balance shall be put in place in the executive power of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister of the government and the Cabinet of Ministers. The powers, responsibilities and duties of the Executive, the Judiciary and the Legislature shall be readjusted with the goal of establishing Checks and Balances in the state power.
- No one shall serve as the President and the Prime Minister for more than two consecutive terms.
- In addition to existing legislative system, an ‘Upper House of the Legislature’ will be established comprising eminent educationists, professionals, political scientists, sociologists and persons with administrative experience to run the state with expertise.
- The issue of amendment of Article 70 of the constitution will be examined, in order to ensure scope to the Members of the Parliament to express independent opinion in the Parliament, except in case of no-confidence motion, Finance Bill, Constitution Amendment Bill and issues involving national security.
- The current ‘Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners’ Appointment Act- 2022’ will be amended for the sake of constituting a new effective election commission comprising independent, efficient, impartial, acceptable and determined persons based on the opinion of the political parties and distinguished personalities. Voting in all the centres will be ensured by paper ballot, and not by EVM. The RPO, the Delimitation Order, and the law for registration of political parties will be reformed. Use of party symbol in the local government election will be annulled.
- All the constitutional, statutory and public institutions shall be reconstituted in a move to restore transparency, accountability and credibility rising above parochial political lines. Appointment to the constitutional and other key posts in these institutions shall be subject to vetting by the parliamentary committee through hearing.
- Effective independence of judiciary will be ensured in line with the Bangladesh Constitution and the Masdar Hossain Case verdict. A ‘Judicial Commission’ will be formed to reform the existing judicial system. The Supreme Court will administer the service discipline including control, transfer, promotion, and grant of leave of the persons appointed in the judicial service and that of the judicial magistrates. A separate secretariat for the judiciary will be established to function under the Supreme Court. The erstwhile ‘Supreme Judicial Council’ enshrined in the constitution, shall be reintroduced to deal with the issues like impeachment of the Supreme Court Judges. For this, necessary amendments to the constitution will be made. The judges of the higher judiciary shall be appointed strictly on the basis of standard of knowledge, wisdom, morality, patriotism, reputation and sense of judgment rising above party considerations. In order to appoint judges of the Supreme Court, a law outlining specific qualifications and standards will be enacted according to Article 95/C of the constitution.
- An ‘Administrative Reforms Commission’ comprising qualified and experienced persons shall be set up with the objective of building up a service-oriented public and police administration imbued with patriotism. Merit, integrity, creativity, competence, experience and training will be the sole yardstick for appointment, transfer and promotion in civil and military administration.
- A ‘Media Commission’ will be set up comprising former Supreme Court Judge, media professionals and learned, experienced and acceptable media personalities for comprehensive reforms in the media sector. Environment for honest and independent journalism will be restored. For this purpose the ICT Act- 2006 will be amended and Digital Security Act- 2018 will be repealed. Trial of all cases of murder and torture of the journalists including sensational Sagar-Runi murder case will be ensured.
- There will be no compromise on corruption. A white paper will be published on investigating money laundering and corruption that took place over the last one decade and a half, and persons identified as responsible shall be brought to book. Adequate administrative and legal measures will be taken to bring back home the money laundered outside the country. Transparency and accountability shall be ensured in the Anti-Corruption Commission through systematic reforms, in addition to reforming Anti-Corruption Commission and Anti-Corruption law. ‘Ombudsman’ will be put in place as provided under the constitution.
- Rule of law will be established at all levels. Human values and human dignity shall be restored. The heinous culture of enforced disappearances, murder, extrajudicial killings and inhuman physical and mental torture will take an end. Human rights will be implemented as provided under ‘Universal Human Rights Charter’. Appointment to the Human Rights Commission shall be made based on strict and specific criteria. Trial of all the persons directly or indirectly responsible for all extrajudicial killings, indiscriminate killings in the name of crossfire, enforced disappearances, murder, abduction, rape, inhuman physical torture and all cruel and inhuman crimes committed over more than a decade, shall be ensured.
- An ‘Economic Reforms Commission’ will be formed comprising renowned economists, researchers, experienced bankers, corporate leaders and people with administrative experience to ensure economic justice. Disparity between the poor and the rich will be eliminated through equitable distribution of the benefits of growth to implement equity and social justice.
The Constitution Reforms Commission, the Administrative Reforms Commission, the Judicial Commission, the Media Commission, and the Economic Reforms Commission will submit their respective reports within a definite timeframe so that relevant recommendations could be fast implemented.
- Every individual will enjoy full right to exercise respective religious activities based on the fundamental principle of “Religion belongs to respective individual; state belongs to all.” Social, political, cultural, economic, religious and civil rights as well as security of life, property and dignity of the people including ethnic minority in the hills and plains irrespective of political affiliations, race, colour, caste and creed, as provided under the constitution, shall be ensured.
- Fair wages of the working class will be ensured in keeping with inflation. Child labour will be stopped. Special programs will be implemented for equitable growth and eradication of disparity in the disadvantaged regions like tea gardens, slums, sands, haors and coastal belt.
- All black laws including Indemnity Act in the power, energy and mineral sectors will be repealed. The endless corruption currently being pursued in purchase of electricity from the anti-people quick rental power station shall be stopped in order to prevent hemorrhaging in the national economy. Adequate steps will be taken for renewable and mixed energy-based power generation. Appropriate measures shall be taken for exploration and tapping of the neglected gas and mineral resources to cut import dependency.
- In terms of foreign relations, the national interest of Bangladesh will get the topmost priority. No terrorist activity shall be tolerated on the soil of Bangladesh. Stern measures shall be taken against terrorism, extremism and militancy. The use of terrorism as political tool to suppress the dissents and opposition political parties by misusing the anti-terrorist law will be stopped. This will facilitate identify the real terrorists and ensure punishment under the process of law.
- To protect the sovereignty of the country, the Defence Forces will be well organized in a time befitting manner imbibed with the spirit of patriotism. Defence forces will be kept above all controversies with its distinct dignity intact.
- In a bid to comprehensive decentralization of power, the local government institutions will be made more independent, strong and empowered. These institutions will be brought under strict accountability so that they can play effective role in different development and service-oriented works including health and education. Independent local government will be ensured free from the interference of the local administration and any public representative whatsoever. Appointment of government administrator in any local government institution will be stopped, except for vacancy created due to death of the incumbent or by an order of the court. An elected local government representative shall not be suspended/dismissed/removed by executive order unless sentenced by the court.
- A list of the martyrs of the liberation war will be prepared under state initiative on the basis of intensive survey and they will be accorded due state status and recognition. Welfare policy for the martyred freedom fighter families will be formulated and implemented on the basis of the list. An accurate list of the freedom fighters will be prepared on intensive verification.
- Modern and time-befitting youth development policies will be formulated in keeping with the vision, thoughts and aspirations of the youth.
Unemployed educated youth will be given ‘Unemployment Allowance’ till he/she gets employed, or for one year, whichever occurs earlier. Visible steps will be taken to achieve demographic dividend by enhancing the skill of the youth.
Multiple pragmatic programs will be taken to deal with unemployment problem. Necessary investment shall be made to develop human resources with utmost importance on health, education and nutrition.
Increase in age-limit for entry into the government service will be considered in keeping with the international standard.
- Specific programs will be taken to ensure empowerment of women. Women will be given preference, in principle, with regard to nomination for national parliament election. Initiative will be taken to increase women representation in the local government.
- Need-based education at lower and mid-level and knowledge-based education at the tertiary-level will be given priority by removing current anarchy in the education sector. Special emphasis will be laid on research. 5% of GDP will be allocated in the national budget for education sector.
- Based on the principle of ‘Health for all’, universal health care will be introduced in line with ‘NHS’ in the United Kingdom. 5% of GDP will be allocated for health sector.
- Fair price of agricultural produce will be ensured. Crop insurance, livestock insurance, fisheries insurance and poultry insurance will be introduced by extending subsidy-support, if so required. Non-agricultural use of agricultural land will be discouraged.
This ‘Outline of the Structural Reforms of the State’ has been prepared in line with the ‘19- Points’ of Late President Ziaur Rahman and BNP’s ‘Vision- 2030’ declared by ‘deshnetri’ Begum Khaleda Zia.
- Other thematic reform propositions and development programs will be announced in due course.
- Constructive suggestions, if any, to further enrich this ‘Outline of the Structural Reforms of the State’, are most welcome in the larger interest of the nation.
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Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain
Member, National Standing Committee
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