Introduction of proportional representation system in Parliament elections, permanent inclusion of caretaker government system in the constitution, amendment of existing laws to ensure justice, formation of shadow cabinet with deputy speaker from the opposition, change in police law, making the age limit for job applications permanent at 33 years, maintaining relations with all countries on the basis of equality and fairness. Retain, the objective history of mass uprising of 2024 should be highlighted in textbooks, the same person should not have more than two consecutive terms as Prime Minister, entertainment programs should be free of obscenity, Hajj and Umrah expenses should be reduced, all controversial books should be canceled and the publication should be stopped.
Staff Reporter: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has put forward 10-point proposal to reform important and major sectors of the state. There are law and justice, parliamentary reform, electoral system reform, law and order reform (police force and RAB reform), public administration reform, corruption, constitutional reform, education and culture reform, culture reform, foreign affairs reform and religion ministry reform.
The party said that the main responsibility of this government is to complete fundamental reforms in the shortest possible time and transfer power to the elected representatives by organizing the 13th National Assembly elections. To make elections free, fair and meaningful, some electoral institutions need extensive reform. Elections cannot be conducted without reforms. Therefore, Jamaat-e-Islami is presenting 10-point reform proposals to this interim government. In a press conference held at a hotel in Gulshan on Wednesday afternoon, the vice-emir of the party and former member of parliament Dr. Syed Abdullah Md Taher presented this proposal on behalf of the Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami. Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami along with senior leaders of the party were present at this time.
Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Dr. after presenting the ten-point reform proposal. Shafiqur Rahman said, basically their reform proposal is 41 points, that is detailed. Now they have briefly proposed 10 points. He gave the priorities that need to be prioritized for the interim government at the moment. The next elected government will see to the rest. However, he said, soon Jamaat’s 41-point reform proposal will be presented to the nation through the media.
Shafiqur Rahman said in this context, what will the elected government do if the interim government does everything. We also want to check the elected government. When we are in the opposition, our voices are monotonous, and when we are in government, we turn 180 degrees. So want to test all of us including me. We would like to see whether we are in the same place as before, or our mentality has also changed due to such a big change.
Amir of Jamaat said that dictator Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country on August 5 in the face of mass uprising of students and people in exchange for one and a half thousand lives. On August 8, the interim government was formed. The main responsibility of this government is to complete the basic reforms in the shortest possible time and organize the 13th National Parliament elections and hand over the power to the elected representatives. In order to make elections free, fair and meaningful, some institutions related to elections need extensive reform. Elections cannot be conducted without reforms.
The 10-point proposal put forward by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami for the reform of the important and major sectors of the state is simple.
Law and Judiciary: Fair and specific policies should be formulated for the appointment of judges in the High Court, dual rule should be removed from the judiciary, effective measures should be taken to separate the judiciary from the executive department, a separate secretariat should be established under the Supreme Court, separated from the Ministry of Law. In order to ensure justice, necessary amendments to the existing laws and laws should be made in line with the values of the common people, Cyber Security Act-2023 and all black laws should be repealed, high court benches should be established at the divisional level to reduce the length of the trial, to ensure proper independence of the courts. A separate judicial commission should be set up, an independent inquiry committee should be set up to investigate all criminal cases, civil cases should be disposed of within a maximum of 5 years and criminal cases within a maximum of three years.
Parliamentary Reforms: A Deputy Speaker should be nominated from the main opposition party in the Parliament, Institutional arrangements should be made to form a shadow cabinet headed by the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament, and adequate time should be given to the opposition members in the Parliament.
Electoral System Reform: Proportional Representation System (PR) should be introduced in National Parliament elections, Caretaker system of government should be permanently inserted in the constitution to ensure fair and transparent elections, EVM voting system rejected in various countries should be abolished to ensure the transparency of elections, no government employee They cannot be a candidate for any election within at least three years after leaving their job, arrangements should be made to conduct local government elections in a non-partisan manner, to ensure participatory elections, the system of registration of political parties introduced in 2008 should be abolished, which is in conflict with the constitution, for the appointment of election commissioners and other commissioners. A search committee consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice will be formed. Management of National Identity Card (NID) should be brought under Election Commission.
Police Force Reforms: The British Government enacted the Police Act of 1861 to amend the Police Act and formulate a policy guideline for the police, to set up an independent police commission for the appointment, transfer, promotion and dismissal of policemen, without any political- The recommendation of a non-political person cannot be allowed and all kinds of party and personal influence or interference must be stopped. Religious education and moral discipline should be included in the police training manual. The use of lethal weapons in the police should be abolished. During remand interrogation, the presence of the lawyer of the accused and the presence of their guardian during the interrogation of the female accused must be ensured. There should be provision for constitution of police tribunals by judicial members. Police duty and other facilities should be improved. The ‘Police Act’ needs to be modernized by amending, expanding and revising it.
Reforms in RAB: Necessary reforms should be completed to restore public confidence in RAB and other specialized forces. Those who have served in the RAB for the last 15 and a half years must be brought back to their respective forces and cannot be re-employed in the RAB. All types of extrajudicial killings must be stopped. A cell should be formed for monitoring the overall activities of RAB, if any RAB member is involved in any illegal activity, this cell will form a complaint against him. Policy should be formulated and followed in the field of media.
Public Administration Reforms: Merit, efficiency and integrity should be preferred instead of lobbying, recommendation and party loyalty in recruiting, transferring, posting, recruitment of any job should be done within a reasonable time without delay from recruitment notification to recruitment. The application for government jobs should be free, the age limit for applying for the job should be fixed at 35 years for the next two years and the next age limit at 33 years permanently and the retirement age at 62 years. Age limit discrimination should be eliminated in all cases of job application. In all government departments, special measures should be taken to prevent corruption, so that no one gets an opportunity to commit corruption, necessary monitoring should be done. Inter-cadre disparity in employment should be eliminated. During the tenure of the previous Awami government, those who got jobs in government jobs due to question paper leak, corruption, fraud and party considerations, their appointment should be cancelled.
Anti-Corruption Commission: Anti-Corruption Commission should appoint honest, fair, efficient and qualified people. Accountability should be ensured in all sectors of the state, the Anti-Corruption Commission should be strengthened and given freedom to work impartially. Steps should be taken to make appropriate provisions to bring back money smuggled out of the country during the tenure of the previous government and to implement it. Ministry-based anti-corruption commission should be formed. Anti-corruption commission should be reformed, manpower and scope should be increased. Clear legislation should be enacted to take action against those who illegally occupy state and people’s resources.
Constitutional Reforms: Provisions for balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister should be included. The same person cannot be prime minister for more than two consecutive terms.
Education and Cultural Reforms: Secondary from sixth to tenth and eleventh and twelfth as higher secondary should be maintained. 8th class public examination should be canceled and the previous examination system should be brought back. Textbooks should seriously highlight the objective history of the 2024 mass uprising. Material against religious values should be removed from textbooks of all classes. Essays containing the biographies of great people including the biography of the Prophet (pbuh) should be added in all classes. Independent Ibtedayi Madrasas should be established. The existing independent Ibtedayi Madrasahs should be nationalized. At least one Kamil Madrasah should be officialized in each district. Technical and vocational education should be mainstreamed in general education. A permanent education commission called ‘Department of Higher Education’ should be constituted. The education commission formed for the purpose of education reform should ensure the representation of all categories including general, aliya, community.
(b) Cultural reform: Different types of films should be made in the light of the nation’s historical movement-struggle and values. In order to commemorate the historical days of the nation, arrangements should be made to declare them as special days and observe them under the patronage of the state. Various entertainment programs including dramas, movies should be made free of obscenity. Provisions should be made to refrain from denigrating different religions, especially Islam, in dramas, movies and other content. Instead of creating sculptures based on animal statues, native nature and traditions should be brought out in various paintings and sculptures. Promotion of educational programs in all media should be ensured.
Foreign Affairs Reforms: Mutual relations should be maintained on the basis of equality and fairness with all democratic countries in foreign relations. Under the mediation of the United Nations, an initiative should be taken for the water sharing agreement of international rivers between China, Nepal, India and Bangladesh. Trade relations with ASEAN countries should be increased. All agreements made with other states during the previous government should be reviewed. In this case, a review commission should be formed. Bangladesh should take the initiative to join the ASEAN alliance. Initiatives should be taken to rebuild a strong SAARC. If there is an agreement or compromise agreement with any country, those agreements and memorandum of understanding should be discussed and approved in the next parliament session.
Reform of the Ministry of Religion: Islamic Foundation Bangladesh (Ifaba) should be developed as a meaningful institution for the welfare of the state. Imam training academies should be converted into independent organizations or departments, so that they can function independently. The Islamic Mission should be established as an independent body directly under the Ministry. A separate department should be established for the management of Hajj. Effective initiatives should be taken to reduce the cost of Hajj and Umrah. A research institute should be established in the Islamic Foundation, where elite scholars of the country will be involved. All controversial books should be canceled and publication should be stopped. The right of all religious people to conduct religious activities should be ensured.
Central Executive Council Member and Secretary of Publicity and Media Department Matiur Rahman Akand moderated the meeting, Naib Ameer and former MP Professor Mujibur Rahman and Maulana ANM Shamsul Islam, Assistant Secretary General Maulana ATM Ma’chum, Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, former MP Hamidur Rahman Azad, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair and Maulana Abdul Halim, Central Executive Council Member Saiful Alam Khan Milan and Mubarak Hossain, Central Executive Council Member and Amir of Dhaka Metropolitan South Nurul Islam Bulbul, Central Executive Council Member and Amir of Dhaka Metropolitan North Salim Uddin. , Dhaka Metropolitan South Secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud and Dhaka Metropolitan North Secretary Dr. Rezaul Karim, Central President of Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir Manjurul Islam and Secretary General Zahidul Islam etc.
Acting editor of Nayadigant Salahuddin Babar, acting editor of Dainik Sangram Sajjad Hossain Khan, former president of Jatiya Press Club Kamal Uddin Sabuj, executive editor of Amar Desh Patrika Syed Abdal Ahmed, executive editor of Nayadigant Masumur Rahman Khalili, acting editor of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) among the journalist leaders on the occasion. President Obaidur Rahman Shaheen and General Secretary Quader Gani Chowdhury, Daily Sangram News Editor Sadat Hossain and Chief Reporter Samchul Arefin, NTV CNE Fakrul Alam Kanchan, Daily Amar Desh Patrika News Editor Jahed Chowdhury, former President of DUZ Elahi Newaz Khan Saju, current President of DUZ Md. Shahidul Islam and general secretary Khurshid Alam, former general secretary Sardar Farid Ahmad, former president of Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association and chief reporter of Nayadigant Abu Saleh Akon and others.
VC Professor of Manarat International University. Abdur Rob, former VC M Umar Ali, Asian University of Bangladesh founder Abul Hasan Mohammad Sadek, former Supreme Court Registrar Iktedar Ahmed and other teachers, professional leaders were present.
Amir Jamaat Dr. answered various questions of the journalists after presenting the reform proposal. Shafiqur Rahman.
In response to a question about bringing Sheikh Hasina back to the country, Ameer Jamaat said that not only her, but all her friends who fled the country, should be brought back to the country and face justice. Justice should be given what is due by ensuring justice.
In response to a question about the 1972 constitution, he said that this constitution was created in India. It could have been done in Bangladesh. It was an opportunity to take the opinion of experts not only from India but from all over the world. Bangladesh was not found as the birthplace of this constitution. Although tabled in Parliament for official approval. They themselves amended the constitution several times and established Bakshal. Then Awami League was banned along with all parties. Later, the Awami League got a revival during Ziaur Rahman. He said that the constitution should not be amended for any ulterior motive. It should be ensured that the constitution is not amended to give privileges to anyone.
In response to another question, Ameer Jamaat said that everyone agreed on fair elections. But before the election, or before the reform. Reforms must be done before elections. The duration of the reform process should not be too long. Again, it should not be so early that the reform work will be hindered.
In response to the question whether you want the election with the participation of all parties including the Awami League, he said that the Awami League came to power in 2009 anyway. But the three elections that took place after that, were they elections? Awami League itself did not want elections. They want to stay in power. Where Awami League itself does not want elections, how can we comment on their participation in elections. I will not comment on this. The people will decide whether they can participate in the elections.
Before this, Dr. Ameer Jamaat. Shafiqur Rahman delivered a welcome speech in front of eminent intellectuals, editors, journalists, columnists and researchers of the country. In his welcome speech, he said, we all know that a party and their allies were in power for 15 and a half years. The governance that they gave to the country made the people of Bangladesh very happy. Its target was every citizen of Bangladesh. No one was spared from their misrule. Even the street beggar was not spared from their hands. Children and old people were all aware of this misrule. He said that last July, the students started a movement demanding the cancellation of anti-discrimination quota system. Later this movement turned into a mass movement of students and the government fell. Many people gave their lives, were injured, crippled, lost their eyes. Many have been involved in thousands of cases, lost their homes, many have been hurt, we have deep respect for all of them.
A desired change has come in the country with the combined efforts of all, said Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, this movement started after January 10, 2009. Its completion is on August 5, 2024. It is precisely political parties and parties that have been subjected to torture. And the name of the most persecuted party is Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. 11 top leaders of this party have been sentenced by the court on false pretexts and sent away from the world. Not only that, thousands of people who protested against their misrule have been removed from the world. Many people have gone missing. Many people have been forced to live in the infamous well known as Ayanaghar. They have been detained not for days, not for weeks, not for months, but for years. Their families did not know if they were alive or had passed away. If they are gone, where is their body? They do not know when and how they were buried. A very lucky few have ever returned from that infamous mirror. This nation does not know what happened to the rest and neither do their own people. We are equally distressed with these distressed people.
On August 5, the black chapter of mismanagement was removed by the help of Allah Ta’ala with His mercy. In the end, this movement culminated in the hands of our youth. I once again send them my love, respect and best wishes.
Addressing the journalists present and dignitaries of the country, he said, on behalf of our beloved organization, our love for you and the nation. We will present to you the idea of what fundamental reforms we think are necessary. We will reach your house through our ideas online. We wish you all the best and thank you again.
