Advisory council members, students, workers, representatives of mass movements, representatives of civil society and political parties will be present in the deliberations and consultation meetings of the commissions.

Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Prof Muhammad Yunus, highlighted the importance of electoral system reform on Wednesday, revealing the formation of six new commissions. Each commission will be led by a prominent individual with significant expertise in their respective fields.

Addressing the nation on the one-month anniversary of the interim government, which was established on August 8, Prof Yunus outlined the newly appointed heads of the Electoral System Reform Commission, Police Administration Reform Commission, Judicial Reform Commission, Anti-Corruption Reform Commission, Public Administration Reform Commission, and Constitution Reform Commission. The other members of these commissions will be selected in consultation with their respective heads.

“Improving the electoral system is crucial to upholding the people’s right to vote and ensuring their ownership in the process,” Prof Yunus said during his televised address. He emphasized that reforming the police administration, public administration, judiciary, and anti-corruption commission is vital for ensuring free and fair elections, as these institutions are closely linked to the electoral system.

Constitutional reforms

Prof Yunus also stressed the need for constitutional reforms to better represent and serve people from all walks of life, reflecting the demands of the July mass uprising. He noted that the fully constituted Election Commission is expected to commence its work on October 1, with a completion timeline of three months.

“Based on the Commission’s report, the government will engage in consultations with major political parties,” he explained. “In the final stage, we will refine the reform proposals through a three-to-seven-day consultation period involving students, civil society, political party representatives, and government officials.”

Advisory council members, students, workers, mass movement representatives, civil society members, and political parties will be involved in the deliberations and consultations of these commissions. “We believe this inclusive approach will strengthen the nation and help realize the objectives of the July mass uprising, uniting all in the task of state reconstruction,” Prof Yunus stated.

He acknowledged the challenges faced during the first month but expressed optimism for progress if the law and order situation remains stable. “We need the cooperation of all citizens – teachers, students, farmers, workers, professionals, businesspeople, and homemakers,” he said. “Our task is difficult, but failure is not an option. We must succeed through collective effort.”

Image: Wikimedia