Political leaders are cheering for quick national elections. The government is under pressure to announce the election roadmap. Although the government is saying that after the necessary reforms, elections will be held on the basis of national consensus. However, the work of the reform commission formed by the government does not have the desired speed.
Analysts say the government's slow-moving policy on elections and political party's indifference on reforms are widening the gap between the two parties. There is a fear of creating suspicion and mistrust among each other. In the meantime, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, don't try to do anything excluding BNP by conspiring again. The minus two formula hasn't worked in the past, and it won't in the future. He also raised questions about the interim government's interest in holding elections.
On the other hand, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Mahfuz Alam said that the current government will implement the recommendations received from the commission on constitutional reform. He, however, commented that the process of implementing the recommendations without an elected parliament would be decided through discussions with the political parties.
As part of the reform of the state system, as part of the current government's commitment, six commissions have been formed in electoral system, police, judiciary, anti-corruption commission, public administration and constitutional reform. Among them, except for the constitution reform commission, the rest have not yet been fully formed. The other five were supposed to have one student representative but it was not fulfilled. Apart from this, the names of commission heads have been announced to form four more commissions on health, labor rights, women's rights and media reform. However, who will be its members has not been decided. Three months have been fixed to hand over the recommendations of these commissions to the government.
Sources in the cabinet department said that the notification with the names of the members of these four commissions may be issued by next Sunday. However, it has been reported that the government has formed a commission to reform several other sectors including the education system.
Government-related parties say that after the fall of Sheikh Hasina government, the political parties in the meeting held at Bangabhaban agreed to give more importance to reforming the state system than organizing elections. The new government was formed on this basis. But now the demand for quick elections is making the government uncomfortable.
All the commissions have been advised to avoid dialogue with political parties so that the commissions can proceed with reforms without pressure. After receiving the recommendations of the commission, it is said that the parties will be consulted by the government.
Dr. was formed after the fall of the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina on August 5 in the face of the student uprising. Interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Initially, the students planned to bypass the existing constitution and form a 'coup revolutionary government'. Later on the advice of the court the advisers took oath under the constitution. After the formation of the government, the chief advisor Dr. Yunus said, 'Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's dictatorship has destroyed every institution in the country. I have come to take charge of the country at a time when there is utter chaos in almost all areas. Therefore, the interim government will organize a free, fair and participatory election as soon as possible after reforms in the Election Commission, Judiciary, Public Administration, Law Enforcement and Media. In continuation of this, in the address given to the nation on the day of completion of one month of formation of the government, the Chief Adviser announced the names of six eminent persons for the formation of six commissions.
Meanwhile, political parties say that election preparations and reform activities can continue simultaneously. The parties have support for the government's initiative to reform the state - but they say this but their focus is on the elections. BNP, one of the largest political parties in the country, is already working on consensual constituencies with their like-minded parties. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rab, Nagrik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Mass Solidarity Movement Coordinator Jonaid Saki, People's Rights Council President Nurul Haque Noor, General Secretary Rashed Khan and Jatiya Dal Chairman Syed Ehsanul Huda have alloted seats for the respective constituencies. BNP has also sent a letter to the leaders of the area.
Constitution Reform Commission website launched
The Constitution Reform Commission headed by Professor Ali Riaz, who is expatriate in the United States, has already held a series of meetings and announced their seven goals and objectives through a press conference. The website of this commission was launched yesterday on Tuesday. So that until November 25, interested persons or organizations can give suggestions, opinions and proposals regarding constitutional reform.
In a press release yesterday, this information was given and it was said that there is an opportunity to give an opinion even from those who do not wish to reveal their names. Through this website you will find commission introduction, latest information of this commission on notice board, proposals of participants, report of commission, contact address and important links.
The Electoral System Reform Commission wants to report at the appointed time
The head of the commission formed to reform the electoral system. Badiul Alam Majumdar said that they will be able to submit the report to the government within the three month period set by the government for the reform of the law. The government will hold a meeting with the parties on that recommendation.
However, there have already been demands from various quarters about changing the current government system and election system. In that case, before amending the constitution, it is logical to make recommendations for reforming the laws of the electoral system. Badiul Alam Majumder said that they are in contact with the Constitution Amendment Commission. On this basis they are proceeding with the work.
The Judiciary Reform Commission could not finalize the work
The Judiciary Reforms Commission has yet to take a final decision on any issue. However, according to commission sources, discussions on various issues are going on. The commission is working to formulate the policy for the appointment of judges in the Supreme Court. In that case, they said to prepare the report after discussion with the participants. However, no political party's opinion will be taken in this case. The advisory council will talk to the political parties in view of the recommendations given by the commission.
Meanwhile, the reform commission is going to meet again at the judicial training institute of the capital today on Wednesday. Former Justice Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman of the Chief Appellate Division of the Commission said that they will report the progress of the work after today's meeting.
ACC Reforms Commission
The work of the ACC Reform Commission has progressed a lot. The commission will submit its report to the government by January 7. For this purpose, the head of the commission. Iftekharuzzaman and members of the commission have taken the opinion of various levels of ACC officials on a group basis. What kind of challenges ACC has to face, various issues including legal aspects were discussed with them. Opinions of those who have filed cases on behalf of the ACC, counsel for the accused, persons experienced in money laundering have been consulted. Discussions have also been held with the National Board of Revenue (NBR). In the meantime, more than two hundred opinions of common people have been received in the e-mail. Many suggested spontaneously. ACC reforms were also discussed with various stakeholders.
The head of the ACC Reform Commission. Iftekharuzzaman said, research institutes, experts, those who are working on government, good governance will be taken soon. We will sit with the representatives of the anti-discrimination student movement. Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) of Bangladesh Bank, The Institute of Cost and Management Accounts of Bangladesh (ICMAB) and other research institutes will be discussed.
Police force reform
A number of meetings have already been held under the leadership of Safar Raj Hossain to reform the police force. The commission held a meeting with the officers of various ranks of the police. There are different opinions about reforms. Some have also said to change the colonial law of 1861 to make it modern. Many are in favor of preventing the police from being used politically.
Apart from this, as part of the police reform, public opinion has been sought on the website of the Ministry of Home Affairs under the heading 'Keman Police Chai'. This opinion is being taken on 17 issues. When asked about police reforms, Safar Raj Hossain said that it will be recommended how to build a people-friendly police force based on everyone's opinion.
Health Reforms Commission is in process of formation
After the formation of the interim government, the health sector will change rapidly - that was the expectation of the concerned people. But nothing actually happened. The work of forming the Health Reforms Commission is still in process. Although an expert committee has been formed from the Ministry of Health, there is no visible effort to put an end to the irregularities, corruption and mismanagement in this sector. Those related to this sector have complained that the initiative to remove the ongoing unrest in this important sector is not as expected.
It has been found that the Ministry of Health formed a 12-member expert committee on September 3 for thematic reform of the health system, improving the quality of medical services, and strengthening the structure of the health system. The former director general of the health department, Professor MA Faiz, was made the expert panel's president. However, he resigned after 10 days citing personal reasons.
Without the president, this committee held three rounds of meetings with the advisor of the Ministry of Health, Nurjahan Begum. In such a situation, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Forestry, Climate Change and Water Resources, said in a press conference at the secretariat on October 17, that the national professor Dr. AK Azad Khan has been made the head of the Health Reforms Commission. Even after 20 days have passed after such incident, there has been no notification from the government in this regard.
As a result, the expert committee will not work on reforming the sector. Officials related to the sector are also in dilemma about the formation of a new health reform commission. In almost three months, more than half a hundred recommendations have been given by the relevant department to organize the health sector, but the work has not yet started.
In this regard, the member of the expert panel on health sector reform. Sarkar Mahbub Ahmed Shamim said that three rounds of meetings were held after the formation of the committee. There are three types of plans in reform. Another meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 10 am. Here, the expert committee will propose 13 points of health sector reform in the short term.
Health Reform Commission Chief Professor Dr. AK Azad Khan said that the government has not yet completed the entire process of forming the Health Reforms Commission. The notification for the appointment of the Health Reforms Commission Chief has not been issued yet. Reforms in other sectors will be delayed if the process of formation of the commission of health organizations is not completed, even if the reforms of other sectors are started. This expert also thinks that it is necessary to take joint initiative to reform this sector.
Head of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission in Darkness
The work of Commission on Women Affairs has not started yet. The head of this commission, Shirin Haque, said this while talking to Samakal on Tuesday. He said, 'I have not received any paper. I have not yet received any feedback from the government.' When asked when the work can start, this human rights activist said, 'I can't say. The government can say that.'
Labor Rights Reform Commission
Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, an international expert on labor and executive director of Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS), has been appointed as the head of the Labor Rights Reform Commission. He said that the gazette of the full committee may be published in a day or two. However, he has already started working with potential members of the commission. So that the commission can present a recommendation within the stipulated time. Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed said that they are giving priority to increase the number of workers. Because, till now all the discussion and attention of the government regarding labor is going on only in the center of the workers of the institutional sector. But a large number of workers are in the informal sector, who are not covered by the government wage structure or any kind of benefits.
They are thinking of alternative dispute resolution at the factory level as the second priority. The reason for giving priority to this issue is that if any labor related problem arises, it can be resolved quickly at the factory level. Such an alternative dispute resolution system is beneficial for both the workers-employer-employer parties.
