BNP walks out of consensus commission meeting, later rejoins

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has staged a walkout on the 20th day of the second phase of the National Consensus Commission meeting.

The walkout occurred shortly after the meeting began between the Commission and political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Monday (July 28). However, the BNP delegation rejoined the discussions soon after.

One of the two main agenda items today was the formation of committees related to the Public Service Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General, and the appointment of the judiciary. The party temporarily walked out, claiming that forming committees on these matters, as proposed by the commission, would undermine the authority of the executive branch. 

Following the walkout, BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed told the media: “We staged a temporary walkout. We had earlier stated that forming a committee for appointments to statutory bodies and incorporating it into the constitution could lead to complications in future governance.”

He added, “To prevent the emergence of any autocratic system—whether constitutional or parliamentary—and to avert the rise of fascism, we have put measures in place in three specific areas. These measures are intended to ensure that there is no scope for authoritarianism to take root.”

Ahmed further said, “Judicial reforms, which we are working on and which are gradually taking shape, will also act as a safeguard for democracy. We can say that freedom of the press is almost established.”

The BNP leader noted, “Despite having so many safeguards, why shouldn't we allow the executive branch to function effectively? We believe that while the executive must remain accountable to the people, it must also be empowered to govern. Instead of forming a committee for statutory bodies, a strong legal framework should be enacted.”