Staff Reporter :
National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz has said that amending the constitution through an ordinance is a feasible approach, citing historical precedents in Bangladesh.
His remarks were made during a press conference held on Monday at the LD Hall of the National Parliament Building, where he discussed the implementation of key reform proposals.
“Amending the constitution through an ordinance is possible. It has been done before in Bangladesh and was later ratified by the elected parliament,” he said.
His comments coincided with the commission’s announcement that it has sought opinions from 34 political parties regarding major recommendations from five reform commissions.
The commission has outlined 166 recommendations across various sectors, including 70 focused on constitutional reforms, 27 on the electoral system, 23 on the judiciary, 26 on public administration, and 20 on the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Ali Riaz informed that letters were sent to political parties and alliances on March 6, requesting their views on these recommendations, with a submission deadline of March 13.
He emphasized the importance of these submissions, as discussions will be conducted to identify common ground and prioritize key issues for the formation of a national charter.
“Once we receive their opinions, we will begin direct discussions with party representatives.
No fixed date has been set for these discussions, but they will commence as soon as responses are received,” he stated, urging political parties to participate actively in the process.
The National Consensus Commission was formed on February 12 to facilitate dialogue among political parties and stakeholders regarding the implementation of recommendations from six reform commissions.
These commissions address reforms in the constitution, electoral system, judiciary, public administration, anti-corruption measures, and the police.
The commission, chaired by interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, has been given a six-month mandate.
It commenced operations on February 15 with an inaugural meeting attended by 104 representatives from 34 political parties, reaffirming their commitment to the reform process.
Following requests from political parties, the commission distributed hard copies of reports from all six reform commissions by February 22, having previously sent soft copies.
Subsequently, three rounds of internal discussions were held to identify the most significant recommendations.
“The key recommendations from five commissions have been compiled in a structured format.
However, the recommendations from the Police Reform Commission were excluded as they can be implemented through administrative measures,” Ali Riaz explained.
Political parties have been asked to indicate their stance on each recommendation by selecting ‘agree,’ ‘disagree,’ or ‘partially agree.’
Additionally, they have been requested to provide their preferred method and timeframe for implementation, choosing from six options, including ordinance, referendum, or constitutional reforms before or after the elections.
Ali Riaz further revealed that the commission plans to launch a website to collect public opinions on these key recommendations, reinforcing the collaborative nature of the reform process.
He acknowledged the support received from political parties, civil society, and the media in advancing reforms related to the constitution and state institutions.
