No alternative to establishing independent election commission: Salahuddin Ahmed

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has emphasized that establishing a truly independent Election Commission under a neutral caretaker government system is essential to prevent the recurrence of authoritarian rule in Bangladesh.

Speaking at a discussion hosted by Nagorik Oikya at the National Press Club on Thursday, Salahuddin outlined the BNP's reform agenda, asserting that "there is no alternative" to electoral and institutional restructuring if democracy is to be sustained.

The event marked the 13th founding anniversary of Nagorik Oikya, a political platform founded on June 1, 2012, under the leadership of Mahmudur Rahman with the vision of building Bangladesh as a welfare-oriented democratic state.

Salahuddin warned that a concentration of power in any one organ of the state undermines democracy and creates conditions for despotism. He called for a constitutional balance among the executive, judiciary, and legislature based on the principle of separation of powers.

"A real democratic structure can never emerge by weakening the executive alone," he said. "Each organ must operate independently within its constitutional boundaries. Only then can they provide checks and balances on each other, preventing the rise of authoritarianism."

Reiterating the BNP's reform proposals, Salahuddin called for limiting the tenure of any individual as Prime Minister to a maximum of 10 years. "This is where the door to dictatorship closes. This is where the roots of fascism are cut off," he said.

He also advocated for broader reforms, including ensuring the full independence of the judiciary, guaranteeing media freedom, and reinstating the caretaker government system for conducting national elections.

Discussing parliamentary reform, Salahuddin revealed that consensus had already been reached on amending Article 70, which currently restricts lawmakers from voting against their party. The BNP is now proposing that members of parliament be allowed to vote by secret ballot in presidential elections—an initiative he described as potentially "revolutionary."

Rejecting the notion that weakening one branch of government will strengthen democracy, he argued that the state must instead strengthen each institution to operate effectively and independently. "We don’t want reform that strips power from any particular organ," Salahuddin said. "We want reforms that will allow every institution to function as a safeguard of democracy."

He cautioned against efforts to excessively control the executive branch in the name of reform, pointing out that both executive overreach and legislative dominance have, in the past, led to undemocratic rule in Bangladesh. "True reform means institutional balance—not suppression," he said.

Salahuddin concluded with optimism about the ongoing dialogue around national reform. "Yes, it takes time. But we are talking, and we are hopeful. A democratic transformation is possible."

Presiding over the event, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman urged attendees to remain alert. "Keep your eyes open. Keep your ears like a rabbit—always listening. We must understand what’s really happening in this country," he said.

Leaders from various political and left-democratic parties were present at the programme, including Mustafa Jamal Haider (National Party – Kazi Zafar faction), Saiful Haque (Revolutionary Workers Party), Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Bablu (Bhashani Janashakti Party), Ruhin Hossain Prince (Communist Party of Bangladesh), Abul Hasan Rubel (Gana Sanghati Andolan), Mohammad Ullah Modhu (Gano Forum), and Shahidullah Kaiser (Nagorik Oikya).