BNP places 27-point state reform plan
If the BNP is voted to power, it will implement reforms so that no prime minister or president can serve more than two back-to-back terms, the party has said while unveiling its set of state restructure plans.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/b...lystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics']Politics
BNP places 27-point state reform plan
Staff CorrespondentTue Dec 20, 2022, 12:00 AM Last update on: Tue Dec 20, 2022 12:09 AM
If the BNP is voted to power, it will implement reforms so that no prime minister or president can serve more than two back-to-back terms, the party has said while unveiling its set of state restructuring plans.
The BNP in its 27-point outline, "The structural reforms of the state", also said it would ensure a balance of power between the PM and president.
The outline included the establishment of an inclusive and egalitarian "rainbow nation" based on nationalism and the 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," KhandakerMosharraf Hossain, party's standing committee member, said during a press conference at a city hotel yesterday.BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman made the introductory speech on the reforms via videoconference and Mosharraf unveiled the reforms in detail afterward.
The BNP said the current authoritarian government has shattered the structure of the state.
"The state has to be repaired and rebuilt. With the aim of returning the ownership of the country to its people, a 'public-welfare government of national consensus' will be established with all political parties taking part in the ongoing movement after winning a free, fair, credible, and participatory election."
It said the national government would implement the 27 reforms in the executive, judiciary, and legislative branches.
The BNP said "to restore democracy and the right to vote" and give the democratic process a permanent, constitutional, and institutional shape, a "polls-time non-partisan caretaker government system" would be introduced.
It said parliament would be bicameral and the upper house would be comprised of eminent educationists, professionals, political scientists, sociologists, and people with administrative experience.
The party proposed examining an amendment to Article 70 of the constitution so that lawmakers could express their opinions independently.
On the Election Commission and voting, it said the "Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners' Appointment Act- 2022" would be amended and voting would be on paper ballots only.
It said a "judicial commission" would be formed to reform the existing judicial system and a separate secretariat would be created under the Supreme Court.
The BNP proposed an "administrative reforms commission" to build a service-oriented public and police administration imbued with patriotism.
It said a "media commission" would be created with former Supreme Court judges, media professionals and experienced and acceptable media personalities for comprehensive reforms of the media.
"The ICT Act- 2006 will be amended and Digital Security Act- 2018 will be repealed. Trials of all cases of murder and torture of journalists, including the sensational Sagar-Runi murder case, will be ensured."
The party proposed bringing out a white paper on money laundering and corruption that took place over the last decade and a half. People responsible would be identified and brought to book, it said.
"Adequate administrative and legal measures will be taken to bring back the laundered money."
The party said to ensure rule of law, the culture of enforced disappearances, murders, extrajudicial killings, and physical and mental torture would be brought to an end.
"Trials of all the people directly or indirectly responsible for extrajudicial killings, indiscriminate killings in the name of crossfire, enforced disappearances, murders, abductions, rapes, physical torture, and all cruel and inhuman crimes committed over more than a decade, shall be ensured."
The BNP proposed forming an "economic reforms commission" to ensure economic justice and to eliminate disparity between the poor and the rich.
The party in its reform proposal said unemployed and uneducated youth would be given unemployment allowance for up to a year or until they get jobs.
It said it would consider increasing the age limit for getting government jobs.
Khandaker Mosharraf said the outline was prepared in line with the "19-point" of party founder Ziaur Rahman and BNP's "Vision- 2030". Most of the proposals were of "Vision 2030", which BNP chief Khaleda Zia unveiled in 2016.
Jamaat-e-Islami, a key component of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, and the Communist Party of Bangladesh were not invited to yesterday's program.
"We have invited only the political parties with which we had talks on state reform proposals," BNP leader Zahir Uddin Swapan told The Daily Star.
Party sources said the reform proposals came to the fore when the BNP started talking with like-minded political parties to wage a simultaneous movement.
It got momentum after Tarique asked for the formation of a national government after the election. Following this concept, the BNP talked to its like-minded parties to make the outline that was revealed yesterday.
Different political parties, various professionals, and senior leaders of the party were present in the program. There was no question-answer session in the program.
Max 2 consecutive terms for PM among BNP’s proposed reforms
Star Digital Report
Mon Dec 19, 2022, 06:10 PM Last update on: Mon Dec 19, 2022 06:13 PM
The BNP today proposed 27 structural reforms "for the rescue and true liberation of the people and for greater national unity" if the party is voted to power.
During a press briefing at a hotel in the capital, the party's standing committee member, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, read out the points that included a maximum of two consecutive terms for prime minister.
Among the proposed reforms was the establishment of an inclusive "Rainbow Nation", as well as changes to the constitution, judiciary, and administrative framework.
The party also released a brief outline of the structural reforms:1. A "Constitution Reform Commission" will be set up to repeal/amend all unreasonable, controversial and undemocratic constitutional amendments.
2. An inclusive "Rainbow Nation" will be established based on Bangladeshi nationalism, as opposed to the politics of vengeance. A "National Reconciliation Commission" will be formed in this regard.
3. An "Election Time Non-party Care-Taker Government" system will be introduced.
4. The executive power of the President, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers will be balanced.
5. No one shall serve as the President and the Prime Minister for more than two consecutive terms.
6. In addition to the existing legislative system, an 'Upper House of the Legislature' will be established to run the state with expertise.
7. 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 an independent opinion in the Parliament.
8. The existing "Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2022" shall be amended.
9. All constitutional, statutory, and public institutions will be reconstituted.
10. Effective independence of the judiciary will be ensured.
11. An "Administrative Reforms Commission" shall be set up for restructuring the administration.
12. A 'Media Commission' will be set up for comprehensive reforms.
13. There will be no compromise on corruption. A white paper will be published on investigating money laundering and corruption. "Ombudsman" will be appointed as given under the constitution.
14. Rule of law will be established at all levels. Human rights will be implemented as per Universal Human Rights Charter.
15. An "Economic Reforms Commission" consisting of experts will be constituted.
16. Every individual will enjoy the right to perform respective religious activities based on the principle of "Religion belongs to the respective individual; state belongs to all."
17. Fair wages for the working class will be ensured in keeping with inflation.
18. All black laws including the Indemnity Act in the power, energy, and mineral sector will be repealed.
19. The national interest of Bangladesh will be given the highest priority in case of foreign relations. 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 a 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.
20. The Armed Forces shall be appropriately developed imbibed with the supreme spirit of patriotism for safeguarding the sovereignty of the country.
21. Local government institutions will be made more independent, strong, and empowered for greater decentralization of power.
22. A list of the martyrs of the liberation war will be prepared under state initiative.
23. 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.
An increase in the age limit for entry into the government service will be considered in keeping with the international standard.
24. Specific programs will be adopted to ensure women's empowerment.
25. Need-based and knowledge-based education will be given priority.
26. Based on the principle of "health for all", universal health care will be introduced in line with "NHS" in the United Kingdom.
27. Fair price of agricultural produce will be ensured
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