Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and a majority of political parties have reached an initial consensus on limiting the Prime Minister’s tenure to two consecutive terms, according to Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher.
Speaking to reporters after the third day of the National Consensus Commission’s second round of talks yesterday, Taher said: “Most parties have agreed on introducing a two-term limit for the Prime Minister. However, some parties, including the BNP, have expressed opposing views on this specific proposal.”
Despite this modest breakthrough, a mood of frustration appears to be growing among participants over the overall pace and outcome of the discussions.
Mujibur Rahman Manju, convener of Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), openly voiced his disappointment after the day’s session.
“The discussions are going well, the food and drink are going well-but the expected results are not being obtained,” Manju said, echoing a broader sentiment of dissatisfaction.
He noted that while there had been deliberations on several critical topics-including the formation of a National Constitution Council (NCC), the presidential election process, and the Prime Minister’s term-no concrete consensus had emerged on any of them.
“The people are watching us. We are not happy. The state is spending so much money, but there is no result,” Manju added, criticising what he described as the “unproductive nature” of the talks.
He also suggested that larger political parties bore greater responsibility for moving the process forward. “If they do not want this process to change, there will be no change,” he said.
Manju further remarked that the consensus commission itself could have shown more initiative in resolving key disagreements, hinting at the need for a more proactive approach.
In contrast to the prevailing tone of frustration, Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur proposed a different angle for discussion-advocating for proportional representation in at least one chamber, should the current proposal for a bicameral legislature gain traction.
