Parties agree on secret ballot for presidential election

NN Report:
The National Consensus Commission (NCC) on Thursday concluded its second round of political reform dialogues, reaching a significant agreement on the procedure for electing the country’s President. The parties agreed that the President will be chosen by a secret ballot, requiring a majority vote from members of both the proposed Upper and existing Lower Houses of Parliament.

The final-day session of the dialogue, held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, also produced key proposals on the appointment of the caretaker government chief, the formation of a bicameral legislature, and institutional reforms—though several of these met with opposition from major political parties including the BNP.

Caretaker Government Appointment Mechanism Proposed
The NCC proposed a five-member search committee to select the Chief Adviser for the caretaker government. This committee would comprise the Speaker, Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Speaker (from the opposition), and a representative of the third-largest party in Parliament. The panel would choose from a 12-member nominee list—five from the ruling party, five from the main opposition, and two from the third party—based on consensus or at least a 4-1 majority.

If consensus cannot be reached, the committee would expand to include two justices from the higher judiciary, forming a seven-member body that would apply a ranked-choice voting method. As a last resort, the caretaker chief may be selected under provisions similar to those in the now-defunct 13th Amendment—excluding the President from the process.

However, the BNP strongly objected to the inclusion of judges and the ranked-choice mechanism, calling it a deviation from democratic norms.

Upper House Plan Draws Mixed Reaction
The Commission also proposed the formation of a 100-member Upper House to be elected through a system of proportional representation (PR), based on the share of votes each party receives. The move was met with sharp criticism from BNP, NDM, the Labour Party, the 12-party alliance, and the Nationalist Alliance. In contrast, Jamaat-e-Islami, the Nationalist Centrist Party (NCP), and several others expressed support, while leftist parties including CPB, BSD, and Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam rejected the concept outright, citing socioeconomic incompatibility.

Under the proposal, the Upper House would not have independent legislative powers but must review all bills—excluding financial ones—introduced in Parliament. If a bill remains pending in the Upper House for more than a month, it will be deemed passed. The House can return bills with suggested amendments, which the Lower House may accept or reject.

Political parties will be required to nominate at least 10 percent women candidates for the Upper House, with names announced alongside national election nominees.

Reforms in Appointments to Constitutional Bodies
The NCC recommended constitutionalizing the appointment process for four vital institutions—the Public Service Commission (PSC), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), and the Ombudsman. However, the BNP and four other parties objected to this provision and declared their intent to record formal notes of dissent.

Stronger Presidential Role in Key Appointments
The parties reached a consensus that the President, once elected by both Houses, will have independent authority to appoint top officeholders in key constitutional and statutory bodies. These include the Chairpersons and members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Information Commission, Law Commission, Press Council, Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Governor of Bangladesh Bank. The appointments would be made without consultation with the Prime Minister.

The Commission said these reforms aim to promote transparency, ensure institutional neutrality, and reflect the spirit of national consensus.