Jamaat-led 11-party alliance to form 'Constitution Reform Implementation Council'

Amid a dispute with the government over implementing the July National Charter and the referendum verdict, the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has decided to form a 'Constitution Reform Implementation Council' on its own initiative. Through this committee, the alliance wants to analyse the legal aspects of the referendum verdict and the presidential order on constitutional reform and prepare proposals for their implementation.

The alliance also plans to hold discussions with various political parties, professionals and eminent citizens to build public opinion in favour of the reforms.

The number of members of the opposition's committee has not yet been finalised. However, preliminary discussions have been held on forming a committee of 10 to 15 members. The plan is to include three to four representatives from Jamaat-e-Islami and one representative from each of the other partners in the 11-party alliance.

Alongside members of parliament, political leaders from outside parliament may also be included in the committee. But no final decision has been taken on these matters yet.

Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, said, 'A policy decision has been taken on behalf of the 11 parties on constitutional reform to form a committee called the Constitution Reform Implementation Council and to fix its work, responsibilities and overall outlook. The liaison committee is supposed to sit within a day or two. It will prepare a proposal and submit it to the top leaders.'

He said, 'They will analyse and think through the legal aspects of the referendum verdict and the presidential order and other related matters, and prepare a proposal for implementation. Once that is finalised, it will be announced. We hope it will be completed within this week and will go to the media, with a briefing.'

As the first step in forming the committee, the names of members and their terms of reference are being finalised. After the top leaders of the 11 parties took a policy decision at a meeting, the liaison committee was given the task of preparing the proposal. The top leaders will review the proposal and give final approval.

The committee and its work plan will then be announced through a press conference. Preliminary discussions have been held about holding the press conference at the National Press Club in the capital.

Mostafizur Rahman Iran, chairman of the Bangladesh Labour Party, one of the partners in the 11-party alliance, said, 'At the meeting of the top leaders it was decided that we will form such a committee, and they were asked to make a recommendation or decision on the committee's activities, what programmes can be taken and what needs to be done. In that light, a draft list of names, the number of members and who can be included is being prepared. It will be presented to the Ameer of Jamaat for his observation.'

The 11 parties do not plan to limit the committee's work to the main council alone. Sources said several sub-committees may be formed with professionals from different fields, which will collect expert opinions on various issues and submit recommendations to the main committee.

The alliance also wants to hold discussions with political parties and representatives of various professions outside the 11 parties. Sources said an initiative will be taken to involve in the discussions the parties that signed the July National Charter but are outside the 11-party alliance.

There are also plans to communicate with the political parties and leaders who took part in the discussions of the National Consensus Commission. However, it has not yet been decided whether they will be included in the main committee.

On the participation of other political parties, Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair said, 'We have taken this initiative on behalf of the 11 parties. One section of the political parties is with the government, and another section is in the middle. We will talk to those who are in the middle as well. We will also talk to other stakeholders. Since the government is not moving towards implementation, 180 days are passing, and the session is on the 9th — what the alternative is after that will be discussed with everyone.'