On August 5, under pressure from a massive student and public uprising, the Awami League-led government was forced to relinquish power. Since then, discussions have surfaced both within and outside political circles about preventing authoritarian tendencies among political parties from taking root again. To address this, initiatives for constitutional reform have already begun. As part of this process, the BNP has finalized a series of proposals that include introducing a bicameral parliament, reinstating the caretaker government system, and balancing the powers of the president and the prime minister. These proposals will soon be submitted to the Constitution Reform Commission, led by Professor Ali Riaz.

This decision was reached during a BNP Standing Committee meeting held on Thursday, November 21, at the party chairperson’s political office in Gulshan. The meeting, chaired virtually by BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, also reviewed the progress of various reform committees and discussed the work of the interim government’s reform commissions.

According to party insiders, these constitutional reform proposals are based on the BNP’s 31-point agenda aimed at restructuring the state framework. Key suggestions include limiting the prime minister’s tenure to two terms, reinstating the caretaker government system, and introducing a bicameral parliamentary structure to create a more balanced governance framework.

Additionally, the proposals advocate for declaring equality, human dignity, and justice as the fundamental principles of the constitution, without adopting a proportional representation electoral system.

Earlier, the Constitution Reform Commission, led by Professor Ali Riaz, had formally invited political parties to submit reform proposals. The commission has already begun consultations with prominent citizens and stakeholders, providing a window until November 25 for public recommendations. Following this, the commission plans to engage in dialogue with political parties.

The BNP has also formed reform committees focusing on critical institutions, including the constitution, the Election Commission, law enforcement, public administration, judiciary, and the Anti-Corruption Commission, aligning their work with the recommendations of six reform commissions established by the interim government.

Reports from these committees are in advanced stages. The police reform report, led by BNP Standing Committee member Major (Retd.) Hafizuddin Ahmed, has been submitted to the party leadership, while the constitution and Election Commission reform reports are nearly complete. These committees are headed by Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, respectively.

Furthermore, suggestions were made during the meeting to establish two additional committees on local government and women’s affairs, with Mirza Abbas and Selima Rahman proposed as their respective conveners.

The interim government, which formed six reform commissions on September 11, has instructed these bodies to submit their reports by December 31. Meanwhile, a five-member Election Commission was constituted on November 21, with former secretary ASM Nasir Uddin appointed as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). Other members include former officials from the judiciary, civil service, and military. They are scheduled to take their oath on November 24, administered by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed.

Political leaders have welcomed the formation of the Election Commission as a positive step toward free and fair elections. BNP Chairperson’s advisor Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, speaking at an event in Dhaka on November 22, expressed confidence in the new commission but emphasized the importance of delivering results through action rather than promises.

Alal further highlighted BNP’s foundational role in initiating reform, stating that the interim government’s ongoing efforts are rooted in the BNP’s vision for change. He expressed hope for the timely completion of the reform agenda and a credible election process under the new commission.