National Citizen Party (NCP) is preparing a comprehensive position paper regarding various ordinances proposed for cancellation and amendment, which will be submitted to Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad and other relevant stakeholders.
NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain announced the move during an emergency press conference held on Sunday evening at the party’s central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka.
He stated that the party’s reform implementation committee has conducted detailed discussions on the ordinances that a parliamentary committee has recommended for repeal.
During the briefing, Asif Mahmud alleged that certain ordinances are being used to augment the powers of the executive branch, while those designed to ensure transparency and accountability in state institutions are being scrapped.
He characterised these developments as a “threat to the democratic structure” of the country.
Addressing the local government system, the spokesperson noted that while the Constitution mandates the management of local government through elected representatives, administrators are currently being appointed.
He argued that the move creates opportunities to remove or exert undue pressure on elected officials. He further claimed that an existing ordinance granting the executive branch the authority to remove local government representatives is unconstitutional and harmful to democracy.
The NCP also raised concerns regarding privacy and the right to information.
Asif Mahmud pointed out that while a previous ordinance had introduced a mandatory requirement for court permission before agencies could monitor citizens’ calls and messages, this provision is now reportedly facing cancellation.
He warned that such a move would once again place the personal privacy of citizens at risk.
Criticising the current political climate, he noted that those involved in drafting these ordinances during the interim government have largely remained silent on these issues.
Asif Mahmud further alleged an increasing trend of using state institutions for political purposes and pointed to the re-emergence of processes to create “Kings’ Parties,” reminiscent of past practices.
On the matter of a referendum, the NCP spokesperson stated that the party views it as an essential component of structural reform backed by public support. He cautioned that ignoring the public mandate on this issue could lead to a political crisis.
The party urged the government to enact proposed and ongoing reform ordinances into law and called for a review of ordinances formulated under special circumstances.
Calling for dialogue and political goodwill, Asif Mahmud indicated that the NCP has been compelled to become politically active due to the prevailing situation and warned that their movement could expand in the future.
