Reform commission proposals
Staff Reporter :
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has said that the interim government, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, is moving ahead as a team to implement reforms, with nearly half of the proposed measures already executed.
“By December this year, around 70 percent of the recommendations made by the six reform commissions for immediate action can be carried out,” he told a meeting of the National Consensus Commission (NCC) at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Sunday.
The meeting, attended by representatives of different political parties, focused on various aspects of implementing the July National Charter, 2025.
Dr. Nazrul explained, “We have prioritized the proposals that can be implemented right away, and almost half of them are already in place.”
He added, “We cannot amend the constitution through ordinance or executive order.
However, some matters that are often labeled as constitutional-such as determining who chairs the parliamentary standing committees-can be addressed simply by revising the Rules of Procedure.”
According to him, some recommendations overlap or involve routine functions, like preparing an anti-corruption strategy.
“Certain reforms are part of regular functions, some can be introduced by executive order, others by ordinance, and a few require broader consensus as they touch constitutional issues,” he noted.
On elections, Dr. Nazrul reaffirmed the government’s commitment to holding polls in early February. “After the election schedule is declared, no legal changes can be made since they may affect the process.
Therefore, all required legal reforms must be completed by November 30,” he said.
Expressing optimism, he remarked, “What I heard today makes me hopeful. Everyone wants a constructive solution based on consensus.
If our goal is to uphold the spirit of the mass uprising, prevent the return of fascism, and protect the nation from risk, then finding the right way forward will not be difficult.”
He also emphasized the need for unity, saying: “The most critical factor is intention. If our intentions are united, the path ahead will become clear.”
Speakers at the meeting included National Consensus Commission Vice-president Professor Ali Riaz, BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad, and National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain. Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider, who is involved in the consensus-building process, moderated the discussion.