Political parties agree on how to extend the state of emergency

thedailymorningsun.com
published 13 July, Sunday, 2025 20:13:11
Political parties agree on how to extend the state of emergency

Dhaka //


Political parties have agreed on how to extend the state of emergency. According to the decision, the state of emergency will be extended with the approval of the cabinet, not the Prime Minister alone. The opposition leader or deputy leader will be present at the cabinet meeting in this regard.

The parties reached this consensus on the 12th day of the second phase of dialogue with the National Consensus Commission at the Foreign Service Academy on Sunday. The dialogue decided that in the event of a state of emergency, citizens will have the ‘right to life’ and the ‘right to be protected from torture’. The declaration of a state of emergency will not be used as a political tool.

The National Consensus Commission has proposed an amendment to Article 141 of the Constitution regarding the declaration of a state of emergency. It states that, according to Section 1 of Article 141(a), if it appears to the President that such an emergency exists which is threatening the security or economic life of Bangladesh or any part thereof by war or external aggression or internal rebellion, he may declare a state of emergency for a period not exceeding 90 days. However, the written approval of the Cabinet will be required before declaring a state of emergency for its validity.

The existing Constitution stipulates 120 days. At the same time, the signature of the Prime Minister is required before the declaration is valid for the declaration.

The state of emergency was discussed on July 7 and 10. In view of that, in the discussion on Sunday, it was said that during the amendment to the existing 141(a), the words internal disturbances will be replaced with the words national independence, sovereignty, threat to national integrity or epidemic or natural disaster. Adding a provision for cabinet approval instead of the Prime Minister’s signature to declare a state of emergency. In order to make the two rights of citizens inviolable at that time, subject to the provisions of Article 47 (3) of the Constitution, no citizen’s right to life, right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment cannot be curtailed.

There was disagreement among the political parties on adding a provision for cabinet approval instead of the Prime Minister’s signature to declare a state of emergency.

Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque proposed to take the decision from an all-party meeting instead of the cabinet. Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis’s Ahmed Abdul Quader proposed to include the opposition party in the cabinet.

At one stage of the discussion, Jamaat Naib-e-Amir Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher proposed to ensure the presence of the opposition leader in the cabinet meeting on the state of emergency. BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed supported this. Later, Ashraf Ali Akon, a member of the presidium of the Islamic Movement, talked about who would be present if the opposition leader was not there. He proposed to keep that opportunity. At that time, Monir Haider, special assistant to the chief advisor, said that the deputy leader of the opposition was also of the rank of state minister. Later, it was decided to add a provision for cabinet approval instead of the Prime Minister’s signature to declare a state of emergency. The opposition leader or deputy leader of the parliament will be present at the cabinet meeting.

Express your opinion.

Please Share This Post in Your Social Media