The PM tenure restriction is conditionally agreed upon by the BNP.
The BNP voiced concerns over the proposed constitutional appointments committee on Wednesday, but said it supported the idea of capping a person's lifetime as prime minister at ten years.
We both believe that no one should serve as prime minister for longer than ten years in a row. However, if there is a chance that organizations like the Constitutional Appointment Committee or the National Constitutional Council (NCC) could meddle in every executive body's operations worldwide, we cannot endorse this plan," he stated.
In the afternoon of the sixth day of the National Consensus Commission's second round of negotiations at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, Salahuddin gave reporters an update on his party's stance.
During a press briefing in the afternoon, Ali Riaz, the vice chairman of the Consensus Commission, stated that the prime minister's term issue was once more discussed on Wednesday but was not resolved.
On this point, we were unable to come to any agreement or conclusion. Because we cannot make a definitive decision regarding the appointment committee for the constitutional and statutory institutions until we have made a final decision regarding the PM's tenure," he stated.
According to Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher of Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer, his party is in complete support of the term-limit proposal. During lunch, he told reporters, "No one can be prime minister for more than ten years in their lives."
Updated proposal regarding key appointment authority:
On Wednesday, the National Consensus Commission submitted an updated proposal for the establishment of a body to supervise hiring for specific important roles in statutory and constitutional organizations.
The National Constitutional Council (NCC) will no longer be the name of the authority; instead, the revised draft calls it the "Appointment Committee for Constitutional and Statutory Institutions." In contrast to NCC, the President and the Chief Justice will not serve on the committee.
The Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition, the Speakers of the Lower and Upper Houses, a representative chosen by the president, a justice from the Appellate Division chosen by the Chief Justice, and a representative from other opposition parties other than the main opposition would all be on the seven-member appointment committee. Meetings of the Lower House would be chaired by the Speaker.
According to Prof. Ali Riaz, the commission changed the proposal's name, membership, and authority.
"While some parties objected to it, the majority of the parties accepted it (the new proposal)," he said.
However, he stated that the parties which backed this reform had given the commission some advice regarding it. Next week, he stated, "the consensus panel will present a comprehensive proposal based on the advice to the political parties."
Salahuddin stated of the updated proposal, "We demand modifications in the present
alternatively, laws pertaining to appointments to constitutional organizations. To guarantee that executive influence is avoided during the nomination process, these regulations must have mechanisms for selecting search committees.
According to him, laws ought to contain clauses that guarantee the institutions' responsibility and openness.
"New laws ought to be passed for institutions that do not already have any. Amendments ought to be made for those who already have laws. According to the BNP leader, this will contribute to the state's system of checks and balances of power.
All major parties, with the exception of the BNP, backed the updated appointments panel, according to Jamaat's Taher. Everybody but one party concurred. "This proposition has the full support of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami," he continued.
The Jamaat leader stated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is the only party in response to a query.
Mujibur Rahman Manju, the chairman of the AB Party, was frustrated by the absence of complete agreement. "Nothing significant can be accomplished if this plan is not ultimately adopted," he stated.
"Nothing can be accomplished if this proposition cannot be adopted (eventually)," he stated, adding that the majority of the parties were in favor of it.
A nine-member national constitution council (NCC) was previously suggested by the Consensus Commission to supervise the selection of candidates for important positions in the statutory and constitutional authorities.
The president, the prime minister, the chief justice, the leader of the opposition, two speakers of the lower and upper houses, two deputy speakers chosen by the opposition for the lower and upper houses, and one representative from an opposition other than the main opposition would be NCC members, according to the previous proposal.
The Attorney General, the Public Service Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, the proposed Local Government Commission, the Chief Election Commissioner and election commissioners, chiefs of the armed forces, and other positions mandated by constitutional laws would all be appointed by the proposed body.
The Commission changed the initial NCC proposal when the BNP objected to it on the basis of lack of accountability.
Basic Ideas:
In addition, the Consensus Commission modified its previous suggestion about the core tenets of the state.
"Equality, human dignity, social justice, and democracy" were the initial tenets put out. "Religious freedom, peace, and impartiality" are added in the updated plan.
Ali Riaz said no consensus was achieved yet over the fundamental principles, but most of the parties expressed support for inclusion of the five elements. A more specific proposal will be placed next week, he added.
On this issue, Salahuddin said his party proposed restoring the articles of the 5th amendment (to the constitution) here and incorporating the sentence proposed by the reform commission here.
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