Citizens sharing their opinion on the reform of the constitution recommended that the national constitution endorse multi-ethnicity of society, ensuring liberty of lawmakers and the judiciary and limiting power of the prime minister.
Talking to the Constitutional Reform Commission on Wednesday at the commission office on Jatiya Sangsad premises, they also recommended simplicity of the constitution, recognition of all mother tongues besides Bangla and gender diversity.
According to the commission, 26 persons representing nine organisations provided the commission with their opinions.
Professor Mirza Taslima Sultana and professor Kazi Maruful Islam, representing the University Teachers Network Bangladesh, recommended recognition of all national minority groups with Bangladeshi nationality, equal importance of all mother tongues and secularism.
They suggested bicameralism for the parliamentary system and said that the Bangla translation of peoples鈥� republic could be 鈥榡anaganatantra鈥�.
Roman Uddin, on behalf of Centre for Governance Studies, recommended that the national constitution should uphold the spirit of the War of Independence of 1971 and the 2024 student-led mass uprising.
He also suggested that the constitution must be written in standard colloquial language instead of chaste formal language and an amendment to the Article 70 to allow crossing the floor unless it was a vote of no-confidence against one鈥檚 own party or affecting the national security.
Other recommendations included four-year tenure of a government, reintroduction of posts of vice-president and deputy prime minister, freedom of the judiciary, the provision for re-election if there are less than 51 per cent votes at a polling station.聽聽聽
Justice Iman Ali, Chakma circle chief Raja Debashish Roy, professor Md Robiul Islam, Apon Jahir from Centre for Governance Studies, Akhter Hossain Khan from the Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh, Mayer Daak coordinator Sanjida Islam Tuli and Mushfiqur Rahman, Tamanna Sing Baraik and Puja Rani from Dalit Women Forum, Nadira Parveen and Sultan Md Salauddin Siddique from Nagarik Udyog, Jaya Sikder and Sudip Kumar Das from Sampurna, Md Zunaid and Mohammad Millat Hossain from the Bangladesh Judicial Service Association and Nazma Akter from Sammilito Garments Shramik Federation were also shared their opinions.聽
The commission chief, professor Ali Riaz, chaired the meeting while members including professor Sumaiya Khair, professor Muhammad Ekramul Haque, lawyers Imran Siddique, Moin Alam Ferozi, writer Firoz Ahmed and Md Mustahin Billah were present at the event.
