Following the ouster of democratically elected PM Of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, the interim government of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus set up six reform commissions to suggest reforms in the governance of the state. Four of the commissions have submitted their recommendations to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on January 14.
The heads of the four commissions, namely, the Election Reform Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Police Reform Commission, and the Constitution Reform Commission handed over their reports to Yunus at his office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. The heads of the 4 commissions are Badiul Alam Majumdar, Iftekharuzzaman, Safar Raj Hossain, and Ali Riaz.
Notably, this recommendation to remove secularism from constitution comes following months of violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh under Muhammad Yunus government.
The Constitution Reform Commission suggested replacing the principles of nationalism, socialism, and secularism in the constitution. Addressing the media after submitting the report, Ali Riaz highlighted some key recommendations of the commission which include changing the official Bengali name of Bangladesh from ‘Gana Prajatantry Bangladesh’ to ‘Jana Ganatantry Bangladesh’. However, the English name of the country, ‘the People’s Republic of Bangladesh’, is to remain the same. A provision to hold a referendum for making amendments to the Constitution has also been suggested.
The commission recommended replacing the current Parliamentary system with a bicameral legislature comprising the National Assembly (lower house) and the Senate (upper house). The commission also suggested the constitution of a National Constitutional Council. The Council would include the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice, the Leader of the Opposition, the Speakers of the two houses, Deputy Speakers from the opposition and a representative from other political parties.
About 150 recommendations were submitted by the Election Reform Commission including that a person who has served as the Prime Minister should never be eligible to be appointed as the President at any point in their lifetime. The Police Reform Commission suggested measures to make the police people-friendly.
The commissions were set up after the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina government following violent protests. Upon receiving the reports of the commissions recommending removal of secularism from the constitution, Muhammad Yunus termed it as a ‘historic moment’. In a public address, he said, “This is not just a formality; it is a historic moment, Various committees are formed, reports are published, and formalities are observed, but today’s event transcends all that. This event will be remembered as part of history because these commissions were born out of a historical turning point.”
