BNP unveils 27-point reforms proposing max 2 consecutive terms for president, PM

The BNP has announced a slew of comprehensive reforms, aimed at "repairing" the country's constitutional, judicial and administrative frameworks, which it intends to implement if voted to power in the next general elections.

The 27-point outline, which seems more like an election manifesto, is composed of major pledges such the constitutional reforms to bar anyone from serving as the president and the prime minister for more than two consecutive terms and also reintroducing the election-time nonpartisan caretaker government.

Promising to establish a government based on national unity, BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain announced the reform proposals titled "An Outline of the Structural Reform of the State" at a press briefing held at a Dhaka hotel on Monday.

According to the outline, a "national reconciliation commission" will be formed based on nationalism to establish a "Rainbow Nation" – a country that promotes political, cultural, and racial diversity instead of conflict and divisiveness.

The phrase "Rainbow Nation" was first coined by Desmond Tutu, the archbishop (1986-96) of Cape Town – the capital of South Africa, and later used by Nelson Mandela, the first president of South Africa, to refer to the post-apartheid harmony in the country.

The reform outline has been prepared in line with BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman's "19-Point" and BNP's "Vision 2030" declared by party chairperson and former prime minister Khaleda Zia a year before the 2018 national polls. 

With the next parliamentary election a year away, the main opposition BNP is forming alliances with other supposition parties to ramp up its ongoing anti-government movement and electioneering.

In its latest outline, the party also floated the idea of bringing balance to the power of the president and the prime minister.

Dr Shahdeen Malik, a constitutional expert and legal activist, told The Business Standard (TBS), "Even though the president now serves as the head of the state, he cannot do anything without the advice of the prime minister. That is, the prime minister is the most powerful person in the country."

In the outline, the BNP meant to alter the power dynamic between the duo by amending the constitution in order to give more power to the president and curtailing the power of the prime minister, he said. 

This constitutional expert, however, expressed doubt about the rationality of BNP's proposal in this regard saying the proposal is good, but the issue is whether it can be implemented in reality or not.

After presenting the outline when journalists tried to ask questions regarding the new outline, BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and BNP Joint Secretary General Syed Moazzem Hossain quickly left the podium, leaving journalists unattended.

There was no question-answer session at the press event planned by the BNP even though, in its outline, the party proposed the formation of a "Media Commission".

When asked why there was no question-answer session, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain told TBS over the phone, "Today (Monday) we just presented the outline and our party's vision in front of the nation – it was not a press conference."

"After winning the election, we will form the national unity government which will implement the aspects of the outline including forming a media commission for journalists, BNP alone will not do anything," he said.

As the press briefing ended, TBS asked BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury – who will be the head of the national unity government and who will be the prime minister if BNP forms a government after winning the next elections.

Amir Khasru avoided the question saying, "This outline was announced for the nation and details about the outline will be given later."

BNP standing committee members Zamir Uddin Sarkar and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, vice-chairmen Abdullah Al Noman, Shahjahan Omar, Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Advisory Council member Amanullah Aman, among other senior leaders and activists of the party, were also present at the announcement ceremony. 

Leaders of BNP's allies, Mahmudur Rahman Manna of Nagrik Oikya, Kallyan Party Chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, Zunayed Saki of Gonosanghati Andolan, Secretary General of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Redwan Ahmed, Labor Party Chairman Mustafizur Rahman and others were also present at the event.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman also joined the event virtually from London. After leaving the country in 2008 during the caretaker government, he was convicted by the court in four cases. 

Also, as a convict and a fugitive, there is a High Court ban on publishing his statements in the media.

The party's other proposals include – a "Constitution Reform Commission" to repeal/amend all unreasonable, controversial and undemocratic constitutional amendments, the introduction of an "Upper House of the Legislature", the amendment of Article 70 of the constitution to ensure freedom of speech to lawmakers in the parliament, the amendment of the "Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act, 2022", an "Administrative Reform Commission", appointing an "Ombudsman" to curb corruption, an "Economic Reform Commission", adopting specific programmes to ensure women-empowerment, a need and knowledge-based education system, universal health care, and ensuring fair prices for agricultural produce.

BNP leaders on Sunday said the outline was prepared after several rounds of discussions with political allies.

BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said a "Liaison Committee" is also being formed soon to coordinate among the parties involved in the simultaneous movement to oust the government. 

From a mass rally in Dhaka on 10 December, the BNP also put forward a 10-point charter of demands including the resignation of the current Awami League government, dissolution of the Parliament, and formation of a neutral caretaker government with a new election commission, which will ensure a level-playing field for all parties in the next polls. 

As many as 33 political parties have supported the BNP's 10-point demand and are planning to wage a concerted and simultaneous movement to oust the ruling Awami League government.