The Bangladesh Nationalist Party strongly disagreed with the Constitutional Reform Commission on its proposal for a quota of 10 per cent parliamentary seats for young candidates.
The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami rather preferred emphasis on nominating young candidates but disagreed to the proposed quota.
On the other hand, the newly floated National Citizen Party favoured the quota, with the recommendation that 35 years should be the maximum age for the eligibility of youth under the quota system.
In response to the National Consensus Commission鈥檚 166-point questionnaire on key reforms, the youth-dominated NCP also proposed lowering the voter age from 18 to 16.
At the same time, it opposed reducing the minimum age for a parliamentary candidate from 25 to 21, as suggested in the reform proposals.
The BNP, in its feedback to the NCC, wrote the party disagrees to the youth quota as it considers the nomination of candidates is a matter of a political party鈥檚 policy and, therefore, imposing any constitutional obligation regarding quota is inappropriate.
Avoiding giving any specific opinion about the proposed 10 per cent quota, the Jammat wrote that nominating candidates from among the youth should be emphasised.
During their dialogues with the NCC, several other political parties also opposed the youth quota in the parliament.
Nagarik Oikya presidium member Zinnur Chowdhury Dipu and Rashtra Sangskar Andolan organiser Syed Hasibuddin Hossen told 抖阴精品 that their parties, too, disagree to the option for the 10 per cent youth quota.
Hasibuddin, however, said his party does not discourage young candidates to contest in the parliamentary elections.
Analysts and several political parties, soon after the proposals of the Constitution Reform Commission were published, opposed relaxing the eligibility age for the parliamentary candidates and introducing a youth quota in the parliament.
The final reports on constitutional, electoral, police, anti-corruption, judiciary and public administration reforms were published on 8 February.
Among the Constitution Reform Commission鈥檚 recommendations was a 10 per cent youth quota in the 400-seat National Assembly, the lower house of the proposed bicameral parliament.
There has been a speculation that the recommendation seeks to integrate young leaders from the July 2024 uprising into the national political system.
The commission鈥檚 report argued that encouraging youth participation in politics would promote a more engaged and informed electorate.
Ali Riaz, vice-chair of the NCC and the former Constitution Reform Commission chief, however, said the proposed age reduction is not meant to benefit any specific group.
Interestingly, the Nurul Haque-led Gana Adhikar Parishad and the Bangladesh Law Alliance, among the 28 political parties and 55 civil society groups submitting primary recommendations, backed reducing the eligibility age.
None of the political parties and groups other than the NCP advocated for a youth quota.
The Gana Adhikar Parishad recommended setting the eligibility age at 23 and allocating 10 per cent of nominations for youth, religious and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities.
The BNP recommended maintaining Article 66 of the constitution, which requires a parliamentarian鈥檚 age to be at least 25.
Kazi Maruful Islam, a professor at Dhaka University鈥檚 development studies department, supports reducing the eligibility age to accommodate young politicians from the July uprising.
鈥楤ut I don鈥檛 think there is a need for a youth quota in the parliament,鈥� he said.
Political analyst Zahed Ur Rahman, a member of the former Electoral Reform Commission, argues that political maturity is essential in serving as a parliamentarian.
鈥榊oung people should enter politics on their own merit and compete in elections naturally,鈥� he commented.
