BNP clarifies agreement, disagreement on some aspects of state reforms

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed concerns over growing public frustration and anxiety regarding the Consensus Commission, despite widespread interest in its work. 

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan on Sunday, he highlighted the party’s active participation in all six reform commissions.

Fakhrul said that BNP representatives have engaged constructively in daily Consensus Commission discussions, often compromising to foster agreement with other parties. 

However, he pointed out delays caused by new proposals that conflict with or diverge from those of the reform commissions, leading to frequent deadlocks. 

Despite this, BNP remains committed to providing logical, evidence-based input to support informed decisions.

He emphasised that opposing proposals that undermine the elected parliament, government, or state structure in the name of strengthening certain institutions aligns with the core goal of meaningful reform. 

“Opposing measures that weaken an elected, accountable government is not obstruction but a contribution to effective reform,” Fakhrul stated.

On specific reforms, Fakhrul said the Police Reform Commission has reached consensus on most issues, including dissolving the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), though formal discussions are pending. 

For the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), BNP agreed to 46 of 47 recommendations, proposing to retain the existing requirement for court permission before initiating proceedings to avoid delays. 

On Public Administration Reform, BNP supported 187 of 208 recommendations, partially agreed to five, and rejected 11 concerning provincial creation and administrative irregularities. 

For electoral reform, BNP endorsed 141 of 243 proposals, partially agreed to 14, conditionally supported 64, and opposed 24, while backing measures for free, fair, and neutral elections. Judiciary reform discussions are ongoing.

Regarding the Constitutional Reform Commission, BNP accepted most of the 131 recommendations, including those on Article 70 and prime ministerial term limits, despite no global precedent, to achieve consensus. 

The party also compromised on its proposal for appointing the chief justice and agreed to allocate key parliamentary committee chairmanships and additional posts to the opposition proportional to their seats.

Fakhrul noted consensus on amending Article 49 to adjust presidential powers, reinstating the caretaker government system, modernising the Ombudsman Act, and reforming electoral boundaries through constitutional and legislative measures.

He cautioned that new proposals introduced in the Consensus Commission, beyond those from the reform commissions, could significantly impact politics, governance, and the parliamentary system. 

Fakhrul stressed that major state or representation changes require public engagement and consent, questioning the authority of any commission, individual, or party to impose such transformations. 

He reaffirmed BNP’s role as a key force in resisting autocracy and fascism in the country.