The newly established Constitution Reform Commission will consider written proposals from political parties without direct engagement, opting to gather feedback from a wider audience via a soon-to-be-launched website.

The committee will also interact with representatives of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagorik Committee, the body said at a press conference held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban today.

Meanwhile, the search committee formed to appoint a new election commission sought names before November 7.

Political parties, professional organizations or even individuals can submit names to the Cabinet Division, the division said in a statement released today.

The head of the constitutional reform body, Ali Riaz, presented a plan for constitutional revision, aimed at reflecting public aspirations and addressing governance challenges.

“We hope to launch the website on Tuesday and start discussions with stakeholders from next week,” Riaz said, adding that the commission’s website would collect opinions and proposals from the public.

Further, Riaz said discussions would be held with concerned parties regarding the constitutional demands of the people of the hill districts.

He added that they would collaborate with stakeholders and work to archive the discussions for future reference by researchers and policymakers.

The commission’s mandate covers a comprehensive review of the constitution, with a focus on amendments, additions and restructuring to meet changing public expectations.

According to Riaz, the reform will aim to realize the goals of the 1971 Liberation War, including equality, human dignity and social justice, echoing sentiments expressed during the recent mass uprisings.

Furthermore, the commission intends to reflect the nation’s aspiration for a non-discriminatory democratic state, ensure effective public participation in politics, and prevent possible fascist tendencies in government.

The proposed goals also include balancing the powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches, decentralizing state power and strengthening the independence and autonomy of key institutions.

The recommendations also aim to strengthen regional governance and ensure effective representation.

Riaz clarified the commission’s engagement plans to “contact political parties and request written opinions and specific proposals”, explaining that the government would later discuss these recommendations with political groups.

The commission will hold discussions with constitutional experts, lawyers, civil society representatives, professional groups and young thinkers to gather a wide range of views.

Mahfuz Alam, a member of the commission and special assistant to the principal advisor, affirmed the importance of maintaining independence from political influence.

“Most political parties were invited during the creation of the commission. The government will collaborate with political parties before and after the presentation of our proposals. In the meantime, the commission must benefit from its independence without pressure,” he said. he added, explaining why written proposals, rather than direct talks, were preferred.

Ali Riaz clarified that individuals and groups involved in the violence during the July-August student uprising, those who supported the repression or helped legitimize authoritarian actions, would not be part of the consultation process.

Since the creation of the commission, its objective has been to “reexamine and evaluate the constitution with a view to reforming it, establishing effective democracy and empowering the people.” The commission is expected to submit recommendations by December 31.

Asked how the recommendations would be implemented by an unelected government, Riaz said: “The government will determine how to implement these recommendations in consultation with political parties.”

Alam, however, argued that the commission’s efforts were essential to achieving the goals of the uprising, which aimed to overhaul the political system.

“The demand for a new political system means a new constitution,” Alam said, asserting that the current government is best placed to implement the necessary changes.

Alam also highlighted the commission’s unique circumstances, saying: “We represent the people in an extraordinary situation. Parliament, elections and elected representatives have little importance in this context.”

In response to questions about constitutional provisions favoring authoritarianism, Riaz identified centralized executive power as a major factor, noting that the shift from a presidential to a parliamentary system in 1991 transferred significant authority from the presidency to the Prime minister.

“This concentration of power has led to an imbalance, facilitating authoritarian tendencies,” he explained.

Addressing the broader implications of the constitutional review, Riaz mentioned that the commission would examine the constitutional demands of indigenous communities, promising discussions with relevant stakeholders.

He said: “We aim to archive these consultations for future reference, thereby assisting researchers and policy makers. »

Concluding the conference, Riaz responded to questions about possible political interference by saying: “As head of the commission, I can clearly state that we have not been under any kind of pressure from politicians, the civil society, government or the press.

The search committee is seeking names for the EC by November 7

The Cabinet Division’s notice stated that as per the “Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2022”, political parties and professional organizations can recommend up to five candidates for the positions of Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners before 5 p.m. on November 7. Interested people can also submit their names.

As part of the submission process, proposed names must be sent directly to the Cabinet Division or by email, along with a full biography.

Earlier Sunday afternoon, the search committee held a meeting for the first time in the conference room of the chief justice of the Supreme Court to discuss the formation of the election commission.

None of the committee members made any comments regarding the discussions.

Ahead of the first meeting, Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid told reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat that the Election Commission would be formed of honest, courageous and competent people as required by law.

He added that the Cabinet Division will provide secretarial support to the committee.

When asked when the election commission would be formed, Abdur Rashid said: “The commission will make its recommendations within 15 working days. After that, it is up to the president to form the election commission, and we cannot comment on that timeline.

On October 31, the government formed a six-member search committee to recommend candidates for the posts of chief election commissioner and five other commissioners to the president.

The committee is headed by Senior Judge Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury of the Appellate Division. The other members are Justice AKM Asaduzzaman of the High Court, former chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission, Prof. Zinnatun Nessa Tahmida Begum, former professor of International Relations of Dhaka University, Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, Bangladesh Comptroller and Auditor General Md Nurul Islam and PSC Chairman Mobasser Monem.

The search committee will recommend two candidates for each vacant position to the president to appoint the chief election commissioner and five other election commissioners.