Staff Correspondent:

The National Consensus Commission has taken the position that the duties of the Prime Minister and the party leader cannot be performed at the same time.

The Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Professor Dr. Ali Riaz, said that although most political parties voted in favor of the proposal, some parties have expressed their dissent. If these parties want, they can include their objections in the form of a ‘note of dissent’ in the national charter.

The decision was taken during the 17th day of the second round of dialogue with political parties held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Tuesday.

At the beginning of the discussion, Ali Riaz said, “After a long discussion, most political parties have agreed that if one person is the Prime Minister, party leader and leader of parliament at the same time, it disrupts the constitutional balance.”

However, the BNP and its like-minded parties have expressed a different position on this issue. According to them, if the same person holds multiple positions, there is no constitutional problem.”

On the other hand, most parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizens Party (NCP), have voted in favor of separating the posts of Prime Minister and party chief.

In this context, Ali Riaz said, those who want to raise objections can give a note of dissent in the national charter. We will request them to reconsider this decision if they wish.

He also said, “There is a precedent for adding a note of dissent to the national consensus process in the past. In that vein, it is permissible this time too.”

At the beginning of the discussion on Tuesday, Commission member Dr. Badiul Alam Majumder read out a condolence proposal on the casualties in the crash of an Air Force training aircraft in the area adjacent to Milestone School and College in Uttara.

The agenda of the discussion today included – taking a decision on the provision of the Prime Minister holding multiple posts; finalizing a comprehensive draft proposal in light of the proposals of various parties regarding the caretaker government; Discussion on provisions related to the appointment of the Election Commission, Public Service Commission (PSC), Auditor General and Comptroller, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and Ombudsman.