The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) does not support or agree with the proposal to change the name of the country, nor does it support equating the 2024 mass uprising with the 1971 Liberation War, said Salahuddin Ahmed, Standing Committee member of BNP.
“1971 and 2024 have been placed in the same context in the recommendation to amend the constitution’s preamble. BNP does not consider this appropriate and believes there is no need to change the name of the state,” he stated.
Salahuddin made these remarks while speaking to journalists after submitting the party’s written opinion on constitutional and electoral reforms to the National Consensus Commission at its office at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka on Sunday.
Regarding the proposal to change the name of the state, Salahuddin emphasized that the people of Bangladesh have accepted the current name through long-standing practice. BNP, therefore, does not support altering the country’s name.
He further noted that BNP disagrees with certain proposals of the Electoral Reform Commission, stating that the independence of the Election Commission (EC) would be undermined if those recommendations are implemented, reports Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
BNP believes that the authority to delimit parliamentary constituencies and the responsibility of issuing National Identity (NID) cards should remain under the jurisdiction of the EC, according to BSS.
The party also opposes the proposal to empower a parliamentary committee to hold the Election Commission accountable, he added.
Additionally, Salahuddin stated that BNP does not support the proposals aimed at reducing the power of elected representatives to amend the constitution.
He stressed that parliamentary elections should be held first, rather than referendums.
On March 6, the Consensus Commission sent letters and spreadsheets to 37 political parties, seeking their opinions on 166 reform proposals.
