Reform commissions propose eliminating secularism and introducing significant changes

• Four reform commissions have submitted their reports to the Chief Adviser.
• A bicameral legislature is proposed, consisting of 505 Members of Parliament (MPs).
• Secularism is no longer considered a guiding principle in the proposed framework.
• The minimum age requirement to contest as an MP has been lowered to 21 years.
• The tenure of Parliament is recommended to be set at four years.
• A Prime Minister cannot assume the role of President, and the Prime Minister's term is capped at two terms.

Reform Commissions Submit Initial Recommendations: Key Highlights

1. Reports Submitted to Chief Adviser

• Four reform commissions presented their recommendations to Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus.
• The commissions focused on constitutional, electoral, anti-corruption, and police reforms.

2. Formation and Context

• These commissions were established following the mass uprising of July-August and Sheikh Hasina’s ouster.
• Chief Adviser Yunus assumed leadership on August 8 and initiated the formation of sector-specific reform commissions.

3. Chief Adviser’s Remarks

• Prof. Yunus emphasized the historic nature of the reports, calling them a step toward a consensus-based charter for a new Bangladesh.
• He noted their role in shaping a national narrative for a country recovering from devastation.

Key Recommendations

Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC)

• Principles Update: Replace nationalism, socialism, and secularism with equality, human dignity, social justice, pluralism, and democracy.
• Name Change: Proposed renaming "Gana Prajatantry Bangladesh" to "Jana Ganatantry Bangladesh," retaining the English name "People’s Republic of Bangladesh."
• Bicameral Legislature: Introduce a two-chamber system:
  • National Assembly (400 MPs) elected directly.
  • Senate (105 members) with 100 nominated by parties and five non-political appointees by the President.
• Age and Tenure: Lower the minimum MP age to 21 and reduce parliamentary terms to four years.
• Referendums: Reintroduce provisions for constitutional amendments through referendums.
• National Constitutional Council: Form a council to oversee checks and balances, including the President, Chief Justice, PM, opposition leader, speakers, and others.
• Limits on PM:
  • Two-term cap for the Prime Minister.
  • PM subject to no-confidence votes.
  • PM’s power to appoint heads of key bodies transferred to the council.
• Presidential Elections: President to be elected by an electoral college for a four-year term.

Election Reform Commission (ERC)

• Term Limits: Prime Minister restricted to two terms and barred from becoming President.
• Power Separation: Divide roles of party leader, PM, and parliamentary head among three individuals.
• Opposition Role: Opposition leader to serve as deputy speaker.
• Local Elections:
  • Conduct local body elections before national polls under a caretaker government.
  • Ensure local elections are non-political.

Police Reform Commission

• Proposed transforming the police into a people-friendly institution with enhanced community engagement.

Conclusion
The recommendations aim to build a democratic, inclusive, and accountable governance structure for Bangladesh, reflecting lessons from its historical turning points.