United News of Bangladesh

Member of the Health Sector Reform Commission and Chairman of the Community Clinic Health Support Trust Dr. Mohammad Zakir Hossain on Sunday assured that the commission will thoroughly review the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Law and submit its report accordingly. He made this assurance at a youth conference held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka. He emphasized that fighting against tobacco is a challenging task, but it is a challenge that must be taken on. At the conference, DORP Youth Forum presented six major proposals in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the draft amendments formulated by the Health Services Division. These proposals include: eliminating designated smoking areas in all public places and public transport to protect non-smokers, banning the display of tobacco products at points of sale to prevent indirect promotion, prohibiting corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by tobacco companies, implementing measures to protect children and youth from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, banning the sale of loose and single-stick tobacco products, and increasing the size of graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging from 50% to 90%. Additionally, the youth forum highlighted various strategies, achievements, challenges, and demands related to achieving a tobacco-free Bangladesh. Speaking as a special guest, Director General (Joint Secretary) of the National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC) Md. Akhtaruzzaman stated that banning designated smoking areas and the retail sale of single tobacco sticks are already under consideration. He affirmed that all six demands will be implemented gradually. Former additional Secretary of the Health Services Division Hossain Ali Khondker mentioned that Myanmar has amended its tobacco control law 12 times. So Bangladesh should learn from Myanmar’s example and expedite the passage of the proposed amendments. The conference was chaired by A.H.M. Noman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of DORP. The keynote presentation was delivered by Mohammad Zobair Hasan, Deputy Executive Director of DORP. DORP has been engaged in various development initiatives since 1987 and is widely recognized for pioneering the introduction of the Maternity Allowance program in Bangladesh.    

The Labour Reform Commission on Monday submitted its report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. The Commission, headed by Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, prepared a set of recommendations and submitted those to the Chief Adviser, aiming to establish social justice and ensure fundamental rights for the country’s labour force. The Commission members had a meeting with the Chief Adviser after submitting the report at State guesthouse Jamuna. Quick national consensus possible through dialogue: Ali Riaz The government formed the Commission in November last year to propose necessary reforms for ensuring labour rights and improving workers' welfare. Other members of the Commission are Dr Mahfuzul Haque, former secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Dr Zakir Hossain, professor at Rajshahi University; Tapan Dutta, president of the Chittagong divisional committee of the Trade Union Centre; Advocate AKM Nasim, former president of the Bangladesh Labour Court Bar Association; M Kamran T Rahman, former president of the Bangladesh Employers Federation; Chowdhury Ashikul Alam, president of the Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha; Shakil Akhter Chowdhury, general secretary of the Bangladesh Labour Federation; Taslima Akhter, a photographer and labour movement activist; and a student representative.  

The tenures of the five reform commissions that were formed later, separately from the six that have already submitted their reports, has been extended until March 31, 2025. They include the Women’s Affairs Commission, the Labour Reform Commission, the Local Government Reform Commission, the Media Reform Commission, and the Health Reform Commission. A notification in this regard was issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday (February 18). 6 reform commissions' reports made publicly available The government formed these five reform commissions on November 18, 2024 - granting them a three-month period to submit their reports. The original deadline for submission was February 17. The notification stated that the extension is provided to allow the commissions to complete their work effectively, with the new deadline set for March 31.

Law Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul has said the Constitution Reform Commission did not provide any reform proposals to implement immediately in its final report as any decision regarding the Constitution would be taken based on a political consensus. “It completely depends on the consensus to be built through negotiations of all political parties,” he told reporters at a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Saturday evening, referring to recommendations made by the Constitution Reform Commission. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present at the briefing. Will quit after election following basic reforms: Asif Nazrul The Law Adviser said any decision regarding reforms will be taken based on a consensus engaging with each political party. The six commissions - the Electoral System Reform Commission headed by Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, the Police Administration Reform Commission headed by Sarfaraz Hossain, the Judiciary Reform Commission headed by Justice Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman, Anti-Corruption Reform Commission headed by TIB’s Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Public Administration Reform Commission headed by Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury and Constitution Reform Commission headed by Distinguished Prof at Illinois State University Dr Ali Riaz – submitted their complete reports to the government on Saturday. . Some of the immediate to-do list may require discussion with the political parties, said the Law Adviser, adding that there are some things that are so trivial that it can be done through an administrative order. Indian media involved in AL’s “orchestrated campaign” against Dr Yunus: Press Secretary   The full reports of the six reform commissions were published on the website of the Cabinet Division (https://cabinet.gov.bd/) on Saturday. On February 6, the Law Adviser said the national consensus-building commission, led by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, will hold its first dialogue with all political parties and forces in favour of the July Uprising over the reform initiatives in mid-February. The Chief Adviser will chair the meeting, to be held at the Foreign Service Academy, where heads of the six reform commissions will remain present, Asif Nazrul said.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has expressed the hope that the reform reports he received would empower people and restore their rights, urging broad acceptance and implementation of the recommendations for a better Bangladesh. “I expect everyone to sincerely accept and implement these (recommendations from the reports),” he said on Wednesday. Dr Yunus was speaking at a function at the State Guest House Jamuna after submission of reports by the Public Administration Reform Commission led by Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury and the Judiciary Reform Commission led by Justice Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman. Members of the commissions were present. “We have endured harassment, humiliation and insults. We have also experienced forgetting our own demands and rights,” the Chief Adviser said. Dr Yunus emphasised that the reform commission reports would be shared with citizens, political parties, and civil society members to build national consensus. “These reports are significant documents in Bangladesh’s history,” he said, expressing gratitude to the commission chairs and members for their efforts. Election schedule depends on July Charter: CA’s Press Secretary He noted that the recommendations would not only benefit Bangladesh but also serve as valuable contributions to global governance. “I consider these reports an asset to the world. They will hold a place in history,” he remarked. "We have many bitter experiences of harassment, humiliation and insult. We have experience of forgetting about our demands and rights," said the Chief Adviser. Dr Yunus said the reports of the reform commissions would be shared with citizens, political parties and civil society members so that they all can reach a consensus to this end. The reports of the reform commissions are the remarkable documents in the history of Bangladesh, he said, expressing gratitude to the heads of the commissions and all members for the efforts. The chief adviser observed that the reports of the commission will contribute to the whole world, not only to Bangladesh. Reform Commission recommends completing BCS exam within one year Meanwhile, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, at a separate briefing on Wednesday said, the Judiciary Reform Commission proposed making the country's judiciary fully independent. "Although previous governments had stated that the judiciary was independent, it was not independent at all. That’s why the Judiciary Reform Commission proposes making the judiciary fully independent," he said at the briefing in front of the State Guest House Jamuna. Alam said the Judiciary Reform Commission's report is a big 52-page one and in some cases, constitutional amendments would be needed to fully implement the recommendations of the report. He said the commission also proposed introducing permanent attorney service by hiring manpower following procedures like BCS. It also recommended establishing a separate investigation agency, the press secretary said, adding that generally police investigate crimes taking place in the country and often the political governments use police during probes. The investigation of police is sometimes faulty and those can be manipulated in many cases, so the commission suggests establishment of a separate investigation agency, he added. Alam said the commission also proposed establishment of permanent benches of the Supreme Court at divisional level, while magistrate court at upazila level and expanding legal services at village level. Reform Commission proposes lesser ministries for better governance in Bangladesh Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretaries Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Apurba Jahangir and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad were present at the press briefing. On Tuesday, Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul on Tuesday said the national consensus-building commission, led by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, will hold its first dialogue with all political parties and forces in favour of the July Uprising over the reform initiatives in mid-February. “We hope that it will be held in mid-February,” he told reporters at a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the evening. The Chief Adviser will chair the meeting, to be held at the Foreign Service Academy, where heads of the six reform commissions will remain present, Asif said. The Law Adviser said they expect full-fledged reports of the six commissions will be submitted on February 8 and the recommendations of the reports will instantly be sent to the political parties and other stakeholders who were in favour of the July uprising. The commissions are the Electoral System Reform Commission headed by Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, the Police Administration Reform Commission headed by Sarfaraz Hossain, the Judiciary Reform Commission headed by Justice Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman, Anti-Corruption Reform Commission headed by TIB’s Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Public Administration Reform Commission headed by Abdul Mueed Chowdhury and Constitution Reform Commission headed by Distinguished Prof at Illinois State University Dr Ali Riaz. The Chief Adviser, also head of the National Consensus-building Commission, had a meeting on Tuesday to know about the progress of the reform work. Dr Asif said the political parties will hold discussions and negotiations with all the forces in favor of the mass uprising. He said the activities of the six commissions are ending on February 8 with the submission of their reports.

The Public Administration Reform Commission has recommended streamlining the recruitment process for public service, ensuring a faster transition from selection to appointment and completing the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination within a year. Public Administration Reform Commission chief Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury and his team, along with Judiciary Reform Commission chief Justice Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman and his team, handed over their respective commission reports to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Wednesday. The committee suggested introducing a specific timeline for completing government recruitment processes, particularly for the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) saying that the current process is excessively lengthy. The report recommended converting the examination into a comprehensive written test. Reform Commission proposes lesser ministries for better governance in Bangladesh The report said a merit-based recruitment and promotion policy or law can be formulated for public administration to ensure it cannot be easily altered. It suggested revising the syllabus for the main written examination of the BCS exam and including the following six compulsory subjects: Bengali Essay – 100 marks English Essay – 100 marks English Composition and Precis Writing – 100 marks Constitution, History, Heritage, and Culture of Bangladesh – 100 marks International and Contemporary Affairs – 100 marks General Science & Technology, Society & Environment, and Geography – 100 marks Commission made over 100 recommendations for public admin reform In addition to compulsory subjects, six elective subjects (each carrying 100 marks) may be included in the BCS main written examination, it said. The commission also recommended publishing the final BCS results along with the merit list to ensure transparency saying that candidates often face confusion regarding their scores. Candidates failing the BCS examination three consecutive times will no longer be eligible to appear in future exams, it suggested.

The Public Administration Reform Commission has proposed reducing the number of ministries and divisions to 25 and 40 respectively, aiming to ensure better governance. Public Administration Reform Commission chief Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury and his team, along with Judiciary Reform Commission chief Justice Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman and his team, handed over their respective commission reports to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Wednesday. As per the report submitted by the Public Administration Reform Commission, the commission recommends a rational reduction in the number of ministries, restructuring them into a total of 25 ministries and 40 divisions. JNC puts forward 15-point proposal to Local Government Reform Commission The commission also recommended categorising all ministries into five similar clusters. (a) Statutory Administration(b) Finance, Industry and Trade(c) Physical Infrastructure and Communication(d) Agriculture and Environment(e) Human Resources and Social Development It also recommended eliminating corruption in public services as bribery, favoritism and nepotism hinder the service delivery process within the public service system. It said all necessary measures must be taken to eliminate corruption in public service. Commission made over 100 recommendations for public admin reform To ensure an efficient and impartial public service, political bias and partisan considerations must be avoided in these activities, said the report. The reform commission has made over 100 feasible recommendation, said commission chief Abdul Muyeed while talking to reporters at the Secretariat on Tuesday.  

The Electoral System Reform Commission has recommended re-election in a constituency if the voter turnout is less than 40 percent, introduction of “no vote” provision to stop unopposed election, and the elimination of electronic voting machines (EVMs). The reform commission also recommended barring political parties from maintaining associate bodies among students, teachers, and workers, as well as their foreign chapters. The Electoral System Reform Commission headed by Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar submitted its report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday. Other recommendations include defense division in the definition of law enforcement agencies for election time, prioritizing the Election Commission’s own officials in appointment as returning officers and assistant returning officers, and changing a provision for independent candidate to acquire support from 500 voters instead of submitting signatures of 1 percent of the voters. The reform commission suggested the Election Commission should be empowered to postpone or cancel elections and to conduct re-elections as well as entrusted with the sole responsibility of appointing the EC Secretary. The report said a provision can be introduced to seek the opinion of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court through the President for providing power to the Election Commission to postpone the elections for 90 days showing reasonable reasons in writing following a unanimous decision, if there is a risk that the democratic system, which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution of Bangladesh, might be damaged by controversial elections like those held in 2014, 2018 and 2024. 2024: A year of mass uprising that reshaped Bangladesh’s Election Commission The commission recommended limiting the term of the Prime Minister to a maximum of two terms for a person by amending the Constitution, disqualify a two-time elected Prime Minister for the post of President by amending the Constitution, making a provision to prevent the same person from simultaneously serving as party chief, Prime Minister, and Leader of Parliament. The report suggested creating a 100-seat upper house of parliament through constitutional amendment and increasing the number of seats in Parliament (lower house) from 300 to 400 with 100 reserved for women through a rotating election system for direct representation. The 100 upper house seats should be distributed proportionally based on the basis of the percentage of votes received by parties in the parliamentary elections. In case of the upper house election, it recommended a provision should be made for 50 percent of the seats obtained by each party to pick members from among the party members and the remaining 50 percent seats should be on a non-partisan basis to pick members from among civil society, academicians, scientists, activists, labor representatives, women’s rights activists, cultural personalities and marginalized communities through proportional election. But at least 30 percent of the party and non-party members should be from women, the body recommended. Election Commission ramps up preparations for national election   The electoral system reform commission recommended that if necessary, the caretaker government’s term could be fixed at four months to complete all national and local government elections during this term. The head and 20 other advisers of caretaker government can be finalized by a permanent “national constitutional council.” It also recommended the formation of a permanent local government commission, arrangement of local body elections before the national election and holding the local body elections in non-partisan manners. The commission placed some 150 reform recommendations under 18 chapters in its report.

The Police Reform Commission has recommended identifying and prosecuting police personnel responsible for the killing and injury of students and civilians during the July-August uprising, ensuring accountability through appropriate legal channels.  In a report addressing human rights concerns, the commission emphasised reforms to enhance transparency, accountability and public trust in policing.   Key recommendations include ensuring the presence of an executive magistrate, local government representative or dignitary during night-time house searches and strictly monitoring the registration of cases, First Information Reports (FIRs) and investigations by the circle officer or superintendent of police.   The report stressed that individuals not named in an FIR should only be arrested with a court order based on the case diary.  It further proposed that if a charge sheet is filed against a non-resident/dead/innocent citizen in a fake case, it will be mandatory to take disciplinary action against the concerned investigating officer. Interim Govt to hold all-party conference over July Proclamation tomorrow The commission also highlighted the need to eliminate the practice of filing cases against "unknown accused" and taking legal action against police officers who intentionally harass individuals. Additionally, no individual should be publicly presented to the media as a criminal until proven guilty through due process.   The Police Reforms Commission strongly recommended that the National Human Rights Commission be empowered to take all direct steps to investigate allegations of human rights violations by members of law enforcement agencies. If allegations of human rights violations arise involving law enforcement agencies, the head of the respective agency can independently initiate an investigation. The commission also proposed for a human rights cell for the concerned agency’s head office.  July mass killing trial could be completed before election: Asif Nazrul Besides, in case of violation of human rights by the police through violation of the constitution, various laws and High Court directives, a new helpline can be launched or such actions can be included in the service of emergency helpline (999), it mentioned. The commission advised formulating a protection law for victims and witnesses to foster people-friendly policing and enhance accountability. It also called for a re-evaluation of the necessity of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) by reviewing its history and allegations of human rights violations.  

Professor Dr. Tofail Ahmed, head of the Local Government Reform Commission, has said that local elections will no longer be conducted using party symbols. He made the remark today during a local government reform discussion meeting at the Singair Upazila Parishad conference hall in Manikganj. He said, "We have held discussions with our stakeholders and taken their advice. Based on their suggestions, positive changes will be made in all areas. Local elections will no longer be held with party symbols, as done in the past." He also mentioned that proposals regarding laws, structures, and service activities related to local government reforms will be presented. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Dr. Monowar Hossain Mollah. During the event, speeches were delivered by Additional Police Superintendent Mohammad Wares, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Kamrul Hasan Sohag, and members of the Election Commission. Read: UNDP begins need assessment to help EC hold upcoming election Speakers said that the previous government had politicized local elections, allocated party symbols, and manipulated votes to ensure victory for party candidates, thereby ruining the electoral system. They emphasized the need to move away from this situation and organize fair elections. The meeting, organized by the Local Government Reform Commission, was attended by 103 representatives from various professions, including former local representatives and political party members.