Socialist Party of Bangladesh leaders on Thursday called for a two-term limit on top governance positions, including president, prime minister, parliament members, mayors and chairs of upazila and union councils.
On January 15, the Constitution Reform Commission, as part of state reforms, proposed that the president and prime minister should not serve more than two times.
Discussing the reform proposals with the National Consensus Commission at the LD Hall of Jatiya Sangsad, a delegation of the SPB opposed the Constitution Reform Commission-proposed bicameral parliament, any changes in the constitution’s fundamental principles.
Countering the chief adviser’s indication that the next national election may be held between December 2025 and June 2026, the SPB delegation called for an earlier election following essential reforms to the electoral system.
‘Prolonged stay of an unelected government in power will certainly jeopardise the country,’ said the SPB general secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz, who led the delegation.
Regarding the electoral reforms, Bazlur said that the necessary reforms meant offering ‘fearless’ inclusivity both in terms of participation of political parties and voters in the elections.
Saying that the country required no new constitution, the SPB delegation urged the NCC to avoid controversies in the name of constitutional reforms.
‘The 1972 constitution lacks certain crucial elements, such as the legal guarantee of fundamental rights and the recognition of national minorities. These gaps can be addressed through political consensus. However, any constitutional reform must be carried out by the next elected parliament,’ the SPB leader said.
He expressed his party’s concern over the proposed National Constitutional Council and said that the council might become a ‘parallel’ and ‘supra’ government in the future.
The Constitution Reform Commission proposed a nine-member National Constitutional Council composed of the president, prime minister, opposition leader, speakers and deputy speakers of the bicameral parliament, chief justice and a lawmaker belonging to neither the treasury bench nor the main opposition bench.
During previous discussions with the NCC, some other political parties including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Communist Party of Bangladesh also showed their reservation on the proposed constitutional council.
Regarding the reform of the constitution’s article 70 which restricts lawmakers from voting against their party, the SPB recommended that lawmakers can vote against all issues except the budget, war-time national security and confidence motions.
Among many parties, the BNP also recommended reform of Article 70, proposing restrictions over the lawmakers’ voting rights against money bills, national security issues, confidence motions and constitutional amendments.
NCC vice-chair Ali Riaz presided over the discussion.
