The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) conditionally supports limiting a Prime Minister’s term to 10 years but opposes forming a constitutional appointments committee. Amid growing political unrest, most parties agree on the term limit, yet consensus falters on how to implement it, stalling key governance reforms in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expressed conditional support for limiting the Prime Minister’s tenure to a maximum of 10 years in a lifetiUkrainian President holds meeting with US President on sidelines of NATO Summitme. The statement was made during a meeting with the National Consensus Commission (NCC) held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The proposal, aimed at introducing term limits for the country’s head of government, has gained broad support among political parties. However, BNP has drawn a clear line by opposing the formation of a constitutional body that would oversee appointments to constitutional and statutory institutions. The party maintains that such a move would erode the authority of the executive branch.
BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed clarified the party’s stance during a press briefing. “We are in agreement that a Prime Minister’s tenure should not exceed 10 years in their lifetime. However, we do not support a system where the executive branch is entirely controlled by a constitutional appointments committee,” he was quoted as saying by The Dhaka Tribune.
The debate over the Prime Minister’s term emerged as part of broader political discussions facilitated by the National Consensus Commission, which aims to create agreement among political parties on key governance reforms. However, despite support for term limits, a consensus remains elusive on the mechanism for overseeing constitutional appointments.
NCC Vice Chairman Ali Riaz confirmed that discussions on the Prime Minister’s tenure remain unresolved. “We could not reach any consensus or conclusion in this regard. Because the final decision over the PM’s tenure can’t be taken until we reach a final decision over the appointment committee for the constitutional and statutory institutions,” Riaz stated at a press briefing on Wednesday.
Adding to the complexity, the National Consensus Commission announced it has withdrawn its earlier proposal to form a National Constitutional Council (NCC). Instead, it suggested creating a new body—the Constitutional and Statutory Institution Appointments Committee. However, this has drawn opposition from BNP and other parties, intensifying the debate.
Salahuddin Ahmed reiterated that the BNP supports limiting the Prime Minister’s tenure but rejects the idea of appointing an oversight committee. “We support a lifetime limit of 10 years for a Prime Minister but oppose the formation of any committee to oversee constitutional and statutory appointments,” he emphasized.
Jamaat-e-Islami, another influential political force, also weighed in. Its Assistant Secretary General, Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, said his party did not agree with the BNP’s conditional stance. “We have already said that we have not moved from our position, and other political parties have not moved either. Everyone has agreed on the 10-year term limit, but not on the BNP’s condition,” Khan told reporters in Dhaka.
He added, “BNP is saying that if others agree on the 10-year term limit, then there should be no appointment committee for constitutional institutions. But most parties did not agree to that. Everyone, including us, is holding to their previous positions.”
Sources indicate that during the second round of dialogue at the Foreign Service Academy on Sunday, 30 political parties participated in talks with the NCC. All parties, except BNP and two others, agreed to the 10-year limit for the Prime Minister’s term.
| Also Read: Ukrainian President holds meeting with US President on sidelines of NATO Summit |
The political unrest in Bangladesh continues to escalate in the absence of a clear reform roadmap or concrete steps towards credible elections. The current interim government, led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has come under increasing scrutiny. Many political leaders are openly criticizing the administration’s ambiguous policies and the questionable performance of several of its advisors.
As the country grapples with ongoing political uncertainty, the debate over limiting the Prime Minister’s term—and how to enforce it—remains a critical flashpoint. The outcome of these discussions could play a decisive role in shaping the democratic trajectory of Bangladesh in the years to come.
