The Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) firmly opposed the proposal to introduce a bicameral legislature asserting that such a structural reform is incongruent with the constitutional and political realities of Bangladesh.
The position was made clear during the second round of dialogue of the National Consensus Commission held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Following the adjourned meeting, CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince addressed reporters stating, "We, the Communist Party, the BSP and the broader left alliance have clearly said that there is no need for a bicameral parliament in the reality of Bangladesh." He disclosed that the delegation questioned the commission's reference to the formation of an upper house calling into question the legal and logical basis for such a proposal.
"In one place in the formation of the upper house, it is written, establishing a bicameral parliament. After we saw it, we drew the attention of the Consensus Commission and asked, 'On what basis did you write this?'"
Prince indicated that this concern was not new having been raised in prior meetings with the commission. "We had also spoken about opposing a bicameral parliament in the previous meeting. The issue was again raised today." He added that the commission ultimately conceded the inadequacy of the draft admitting the language was 'not appropriate'. Prince interpreted this as an implicit acknowledgment of the left bloc's argument. "That means they understood our statement. We think that the system that exists in the reality of Bangladesh. So, we will improve it and do other things."
The CPB leader also revisited the party's earlier engagement with the chief adviser of the interim administration recounting their written submission dated October 5 of the previous year. "When we went on October 5 last year at the invitation of the chief advisoe, we told him in writing to go to the polling station to do whatever reforms are needed for the elections and he said that they will do only what everyone agrees with, added Prince'"
Emphasizing the principle of unanimity over majoritarianism in the consensus-building process, Prince declared, "We think this is a serious matter. The countrymen need to know. Consensus in the name of majority is not right. We, the leftists, have said even today that nothing should be accepted without full consensus."
Prince warned against the misuse of legislative mechanisms to consolidate power raising concerns about the potential for authoritarian backsliding. "If for some reason fascism arises in the future, whose job is it to prevent it to move the country forward? The elected parliament will do these. This is our clear statement."
He criticized the scope of the commission's current activities accusing it of veering beyond its constitutional limits. "There is an attempt at consensus which is good news. But providing corridors and providing ports are outside its jurisdiction."
Prince concluded by urging the commission not to be distracted by irrelevant proposals or unilateral agendas.
"You will notice that the consensus discussion is going on. But the people of Bangladesh have various problems. We don't want to waste time."
