Parties agree to cap prime minister's term at 10 years, consensus on independent police commission

Political parties have reached a consensus that no individual should serve as prime minister for more than 10 years,.

They also agreed in principle to the formation of an independent police commission aimed at ensuring accountability within the force, as per a report on bdnews24.com.

The National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz confirmed the development on Sunday after the 19th session of the second phase of dialogue with political parties to drive state reform initiatives.

“We agreed on one thing which was not mentioned earlier -- that the prime minister’s tenure will be capped at 10 years,” said Riaz.

“We will now include this in the charter. Are we all in agreement?” he asked.

Recalling a prior condition, BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed said: “We have said before, no individual shall hold the office of prime minister for more than 10 years. I had added a caveat: if the appointment process for constitutional and statutory bodies remains under an executive committee, we won’t accept it.

“If the Election Commission, however, is appointed based on the opinion of this house and added to the constitution, our condition stands withdrawn. Now, you may declare the 10-year limit -- it is, in fact, our proposal.”

Earlier in the same session, the Consensus Commission presented a proposal to establish an independent police commission” to ensure professionalism and accountability in the Bangladesh Police.

The political parties endorsed the idea in principle, agreeing to further discussions on the commission’s legal framework.

Riaz said, “We are unanimous on the Police Commission. The political parties agree to form an independent body that will promote accountability, transparency, and public service orientation in policing.”

According to the draft proposal, the Bangladesh Police Commission will be chaired by a retired Appellate Division judge under the age of 72. The Commission’s member secretary will be a retired police officer of additional inspector general rank, aged below 62.

The commission will include representatives from both government and opposition: the leader of the house, the leader of the opposition, the speaker of parliament, and the deputy speaker, who must come from the opposition.

It will also include a Supreme Court lawyer with at least 15 years’ High Court experience, a human rights activist with over a decade of field experience, and another retired additional IGP-level officer.

At least two of the commission’s members must be women. A selection panel will choose some members, consisting of the home minister, the chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, and a High Court judge with a minimum of one decade of experience.

The chairperson and the member secretary will serve full-time. The other seven members will serve in a voluntary capacity but may receive honorariums for meeting attendance and official duties per the law.

The responsibilities, powers, accountability, resignation procedures, and removal of the chairperson and other members will be defined by law. The commission’s policy and executive decisions will be approved based on the majority opinion of its members.