Staff Reporter :
The proposal to establish a National Constitutional Council (NCC) aimed at rebalancing state power has elicited mixed responses from political parties during the second phase of the National Consensus Commission’s ongoing dialogue on constitutional reform.
Wednesday’s talks, held at the LD Hall of the Parliament complex in Dhaka, centred primarily on the proposed NCC – a body envisioned to oversee key state appointments and ensure a more balanced distribution of power among state institutions.
The BNP and its 12-party alliance reiterated their opposition to the formation of the council. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed argued that the proposed NCC’s functions fall under the jurisdiction of the executive or are already addressed by existing constitutional and legal mechanisms.
“As a democratic party, the BNP cannot endorse the creation of a powerful body that lacks clear lines of accountability,” he said. Salahuddin also cautioned that introducing such a council could destabilise the existing balance of power. On the matter of presidential elections, he reiterated the BNP’s longstanding position that the president should be elected by parliament, or by an upper house if one is established. He also called for reforms in the laws governing state appointments to ensure stronger institutional integrity.
In contrast, several other political parties expressed support for the NCC in principle, albeit with some reservations.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s central Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher stated, “We support the idea of the NCC, as it could help maintain equilibrium among state organs.”
However, he expressed concern over the inclusion of the president and the chief justice as members, and opposed placing the appointment of armed forces chiefs under the NCC’s jurisdiction – suggesting these issues require further discussion.
Nahid Islam, Convener of the Nationalist Citizens’ Platform (NCP), endorsed the proposal more firmly. “Those who oppose the NCC are, in effect, defending a fascist structure,” he said. Nonetheless, he agreed that the process of forming the council – particularly regarding the involvement of the president, chief justice, and defence leadership – should be subject to further deliberation.
Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, Joint Secretary General of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, supported the NCC as a safeguard against future authoritarianism. He favoured the inclusion of judicial representatives but argued that the president should not be a council member. “The president must remain outside the NCC framework, so there is a higher authority to appeal to in case of conflict,” he said. While supporting NCC oversight for appointing the chief justice, he opposed bringing the appointment of armed forces chiefs under its purview.
AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju also endorsed the formation of the NCC and advocated for the adoption of an electoral college system for the election of the president.
Other parties, including the Revolutionary Workers’ Party, expressed support for the NCC in principle.
According to the Commission’s current recommendations, the proposed NCC would advise the president on appointments to critical state positions, including the chief election commissioner and election commissioners, the attorney general and deputies, members of the Public Service Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, National Human Rights Commission, local government commissions, and chiefs of defined security forces. Additional roles could be added through legislation.
The council would comprise members from all three branches of government, including the president, prime minister, opposition leader, speakers of both houses of parliament (if bicameralism is adopted), the chief justice, deputy speakers nominated by the opposition, and one member elected by a joint majority of both chambers.
The consensus dialogue is expected to continue in the coming weeks as the Commission seeks broader agreement on the constitutional reforms.
