Constitution Reform Commission to seek stakeholder, public input

The Constitution Reform Commission, led by Ali Riaz, announced its plans to gather written opinions and proposals from various stakeholders to guide its recommendations for constitutional reform. 

Ordinary citizens will also have the opportunity to share their views through an online platform set to launch next Tuesday, with the web address to be shared in a press release.

The announcement was made during a press conference held at the LD Hall of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Sunday afternoon. 

Riaz emphasised the importance of public input, saying, "We encourage political parties to submit their written opinions and specific proposals, which the government will review and discuss with political parties."

While the commission will not engage in direct discussions with political parties, every written proposal received from them will be carefully reviewed to ensure key perspectives are reflected in the commission's final recommendations.

In the coming weeks, the commission plans to engage with a broad range of stakeholders, including constitutional experts, lawyers, civil society leaders, representatives of professional organizations, young thinkers, and cultural representatives. 

Additionally, dialogues will be held with members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizen Committee, with discussions expected to begin next week.

Ali Riaz said that the commission would not seek advice from the ousted Awami League and its allies, emphasizing, "Those individuals, organisations, or parties that were 'actively' involved in the killings, directly or indirectly supported the violence and oppression during the July-August student uprising, or helped legitimize 'fascist' activities, will not be included in the formulation of recommendations for reform proposals." 

In the wake of Sheikh Hasina's fall on August 5, the interim government has established a commission to address various reform issues, one of which is the Constitution Reform Commission. 

Initially, the renowned lawyer Shahdeen Malik was appointed as the head of this commission but later stepped down. Ali Riaz, who had previously advocated for rewriting the constitution, was subsequently given the responsibility.

The commission has been tasked with reviewing and evaluating the existing constitution of the country and preparing a report with necessary recommendations to ensure "representation of the people" and the "establishment of effective democracy and empowerment of the people." 

Regarding the scope of the reforms, Ali Riaz said, "We will review the current constitution, which may include amendments, additions, deletions, modifications, rearrangements, and potentially a complete rewrite to reflect the public's desires."

Mahfuz Alam, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, added, "This is a political decision. I am part of the commission solely as a representative of the students. Therefore, I can confidently say that this government will undertake these reforms. No one else will."

During the press conference, members of the Constitution Reform Commission, including Prof Sumaiya Khair, Mohammad Ikramul Haque, Sharif Bhuiyan, Barrister Imran A Siddique, Firoz Ahmed, M Moin Alam Ferozi, and Md Mustain Billah, were present. 

Earlier, on Saturday, a delegation led by Ali Riaz paid a courtesy visit to constitutional expert Kamal Hossain at his office in Motijheel, where Hossain suggested modernising the constitution.