Tarique Rahman wants reforms to change people’s fate 

Acting Chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Tarique Rahman has said, “I mean the purpose of reforms not to change a few sentences in the Constitution, rather than it will change the fate of the people. A person will be able to earn, and his and her family's socio-economic condition and savings will improve and it will be ensured”.

The BNP acting chairman made the remarks at a seminar virtually on 31-point state reform agenda at Hotel Lakeshore in Dhaka on Thursday (November 14). 

He proposed amending the Constitution to limit the tenure of prime minister to two consecutive terms, alongside having a balance of power between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. 

He also proposed introducing a bicameral parliamentary system - where two legislative chambers share the power to make laws - to ensure representation and participation of the learned and accomplished professionals in governance.

His party aims to build a Bangladesh where no individual- not even the prime minister - can abuse power with impunity, he said.

“We will eliminate all the tools of suppression used by that regime, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, excessive force, politically motivated trials, warrantless mass arrests, and various other forms of gross human rights violations,” said Rahman.

Criticising the previous government, he said that over the past 16 years, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of association have been systematically stripped off from him, his party, and countless pro-democracy activists.

If his party forms government through a public mandate in the future, the foundation of the country's governance will be the rule of law, human rights, and freedom of expression, he said.

Rahman joined the seminar virtually from London. Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, along with key figures from partner parties and eminent citizens attended the event. 

BNP declared the ‘31-point for state reform’ on 13 July to address reforms for democratic transformation of the constitution and state system and economic freedom. 

Earlier on 19 December 2022, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman announced the state reform agenda. 

Khaleda Zia announced ‘Vision 2030’ in 2017.