NCP still hopeful about Constitutional Reform Council

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and opposition chief whip in parliament Nahid Islam said on Saturday that the party remained hopeful about transforming the current Jatiya Sangsad into a Constitutional Reform Council.

However, he warned that the opposition could return to the streets if the government ignores cooperation from opposition parties on reform issues.

He made the remarks at a dialogue titled “Deadlock in Reforms: The Way Forward” held at a hotel in Gulshan. The programme was organised by the NCP’s Reform Implementation Committee and attended by representatives from several European Union member-state embassies in Dhaka.

“We do not want to return to the streets for reform implementation. We do not want instability. Going to the streets is our last option. But if the government ignores the cooperation of the opposition parties, we will be compelled to do so,” Nahid Islam said.

Addressing diplomats at the event, he alleged that the ruling party had failed to honour its commitments regarding reforms.

According to him, the government did not take an oath to establish a Constitutional Reform Council and instead created what he described as a “false binary” between the July Charter and the July Charter Implementation Order.

“Before the election, we thought there had been an agreement, the July Charter was finalised, and then the process would move toward elections and a referendum. But now controversy has emerged over how the reforms will be implemented,” he said.

Nahid Islam said the government intends to pursue reforms through the conventional constitutional amendment process, while the NCP favours the formation of a Constitutional Reform Council to introduce structural constitutional changes.

He said the party considers issues such as the formation of an upper house, restoration of the caretaker government system, appointments to constitutional bodies including the Anti-Corruption Commission and Election Commission, and ensuring judicial independence as key reform priorities.

Criticising the BNP, Nahid Islam alleged that the party had compromised on reform issues in favour of elections.

“Reform is not a partisan agenda. It will not only benefit the NCP or any other party. Reform is necessary for national reconstruction, democratic practices and rebuilding state institutions,” he said.

Speaking to journalists after the event, Nahid Islam accused both the government and BNP of “deception” over reform issues.

Regarding future political programmes, he said the NCP would continue peaceful and non-violent movements.

“However, how extensive or strict the programmes become will depend on how the government responds to the movement and whether it accepts the demands,” he added.

At the beginning of the dialogue, NCP Reform Implementation Committee leader Sarwar Tusher delivered opening remarks, while Nahid Islam later presented a written statement.

Representatives from the International Republican Institute (IRI), Democracy International (DI), and the embassies of Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Denmark participated in the discussion.

Former member of the Electoral System Reform Commission Md Abdul Alim and Citizens’ Coalition co-coordinator Fahim Mashroor also spoke at the event. The programme was moderated by the party’s Joint Member Secretary Alauddin Mohammad.