BNP rejects state name change proposal, calls for election before referendum
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has opposed the proposal to change the name of the state, as discussed in the National Consensus Commission's proposal, standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said today.
"There has been a proposal to completely rewrite the preamble of the Constitution. We do not agree with this," he said after submitting BNP's proposals to the Consensus Commission at the National Parliament building this afternoon.
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Salahuddin asserted that the party opposes any alterations to the preamble of the Constitution, particularly the inclusion of the 2024 mass uprising alongside the Liberation War of 1971.
"The preamble places the 2024 mass uprising on the same footing as the 1971 Liberation War. This is inappropriate. The previous preamble should remain unchanged," the party said.
BNP suggested that if the 2024 mass uprising is to be recognised, it could be included elsewhere in the Constitution, such as in the schedules, through further discussion.
Salahuddin also raised concerns over the proposal to place the Election Commission (EC) under a parliamentary committee, warning that such a move would create unnecessary complications, particularly regarding the National Identity Database (NID).
"If the NID is handed over to a separate independent institution, the Election Commission will have to repeatedly rely on that institution for all NID-related assistance. We believe this should remain under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission," he said.
Salahuddin further said that national parliamentary elections should take precedence over a referendum.
"We believe that the national parliamentary elections should be held first, not a referendum. Once a democratically elected political government is established through parliamentary elections, all discussions and decisions can take place," he said.
He also pointed out that under the Awami League government, NID operations were placed under the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the law facilitating this transfer has yet to be repealed. He called for the law's repeal to restore the Election Commission's control over the NID.
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