Jatiya Party (JAPA) has proposed 19 points to reform the constitution. Various proposals have been made by the party, including freeing the Parliament from the control of the Prime Minister, the head of the ruling party and the Prime Minister not being the same person, changing Article 70 (floor crossing) of the Constitution, the term of the Prime Minister not exceeding two.
Chairman of the party GM (Gholam Mohammad) Quader said these things in a press conference in Banani of the capital today, presenting the proposal of reforming the constitution on behalf of Japa. He said that apart from the mentioned proposals, the Jatiya Party has made various proposals including canceling the Fifteenth Amendment and bringing back the caretaker government, introducing the provision of three-fourth majority of Parliament for the impeachment of the President, keeping the provision of two Deputy Speakers.
According to GM Quader, formation of Supreme Judicial Council to remove Jatiya Party Supreme Court Justices and Election Commissioners, formation of Supreme Court Secretariat to assist the Supreme Court, provision of appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners by the President without the advice of the Prime Minister, if any officer does not follow the instructions of the EC during the election. Empowering the Election Commission to take appropriate measures, reducing the Prime Minister's authority to appoint the Comptroller and Auditor General, Public Service Commission, etc. in constitutional institutions and appointing and anti-corruption commissions through coordination committees, Proposed to follow the same recruitment process for all other constitutional bodies like Human Rights Commission, Right to Information Commission etc.
Japa chairman said, 'Bangladesh's governance system is of the Westminster style of the United Kingdom. Keeping that in mind, the National Party has made its own proposal to amend the constitution.
Regarding Article 70 of the Constitution, GM Quader said, 'Since the beginning of parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh, the Prime Minister or the Chief Executive of the Government has been given full control over the Parliament, which can be exercised through Article 70 of the Constitution. Article 70 prevents any MP from voting against his party. The Jatiya Party recommended that this provision be removed as it empowers the Prime Minister to unilaterally take any decision and pass it in the Parliament.
He said, 'We have proposed a system of power sharing between the President and the Prime Minister. This we have done to maintain the balance of state authority. Our aim is to ensure that one person, the Prime Minister, does not become authoritarian or dictatorial with sole authority over all state powers.'
JAPA chairman said, 'Caretaker government system should be restored. The Chief Counsel should preferably not be from the Judiciary. Because, it may question the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.' In that case, the president elected with a three-fourth majority in the parliament can lead the caretaker government, he said.
Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu, Co-Chairman ABM Ruhul Amin Howladar, Presidium Member Advocate Md. were also present at the press conference. Rezaul Islam Bhuiyan, Nazma Akhtar, Alamgir Sikder Lawton, Liaqat Hossain Khoka, Zahirul Islam Zahir, Sherifa Quader, Monirul Islam Milan, Masrur Mawla and many others.
