‘Caretaker govt, two-term limit for PM’

Eminent citizens yesterday proposed the restoration of the caretaker government and introduction of a bicameral legislature in the constitution while holding meetings with the constitutional reform commission.
They also proposed limiting the tenure of a prime minister to two terms and a balance of power between the president and the PM.
They said this while attending separate meetings held in the parliament building.
Prof Robaet Ferdous and Dilip Kumar Roy placed written proposals on behalf of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik at one of the meetings. Later Shujan secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar explained the details of the demands.
According to the meeting sources, Shujan proposed the restoration of the caretaker system in the constitution, but the judiciary should not be included in it.
It proposed that the tenure of the caretaker government should be six months.
Shujan also made proposals regarding a prime minister not being in office for over two terms and the balance of power between the president and the PM.
It also proposed a bicameral legislation, increasing parliament constituencies to 400, of which 100 should be reserved for women. Bicameral is a type of legislature that is divided into two separate assemblies, chambers, or houses.
According to the proposal, direct elections should be held in all seats. In 200 of those seats, a proportionate representation system will be followed. The tenure of the parliament will be four years.
Shujan said the constitution should be a document of truly non-communal characteristics with the recognition of all ethnic minorities.
“The constitution is the supreme law of the state, so it must always be upheld. The Constitution can be amended in the public interest. But as long as a matter is enshrined in the constitution, it has to be followed properly,” Shujan said.
The reform commission held separate meetings with Prothom Alo Editor and Publisher Matiur Rahman and The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam.
Mahfuz Anam at the meeting proposed making amendments to the constitution and not rewriting it.
He proposed the restoration of the caretaker government system, making a provision that a person cannot be the PM for more than two terms, reducing the absolute power of the PM, and giving powers to the president in some cases.
He also proposed the restoration of balances of power among the executive, legislative, and judiciary.
He also sought a bicameral parliament, while making the judiciary completely independent. A mechanism should be devised to monitor whether the judiciary is functioning properly, he said.
He also proposed making the parliament a place that will ensure accountability of the executive and forming an independent constitution commission to oversee whether the constitution is being followed properly.
The Daily Star editor also said the Anti-Corruption Commission, Human Rights Commission and Information Commission, should be made constitutional bodies and the process of appointment of the heads of these agencies should be mentioned in the constitution.
Anam also proposed ensuring freedom of expression, press and media in the constitution.
In the current constitution, the freedom of media is subjected to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.
Anam proposed the exclusion of the rest of the issues except national security. However, the definition of the national interest should be specific, he said.
The reform commission also held meetings with Prof Salimullah Khan, political analyst Jahed Ur Rahman, mufti Saiful Islam, and mufti Abdullah Masum.
Reform commission’s head Prof Ali Riaz and other members attended the meetings.