Party supports proposal with conditions, emphasizing balance of power and opposing excessive executive control by constitutional appointment committee.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has conditionally agreed to a proposal to amend the Constitution, limiting any individual from serving as Prime Minister for more than 10 years. The statement came on Wednesday (June 25) following a meeting with the National Consensus Commission held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed said, “The BNP supports the proposal that an individual should serve as Prime Minister for no more than ten years. This is not new—journalists were already aware of our stance.”

However, he made it clear that the BNP’s agreement comes with certain reservations. “If the executive branch is placed entirely under the control of a constitutional appointment committee, we will not support that. The attempt to completely neutralize the executive power in reaction to past autocracy would be a mistake,” he stated.

Salahuddin emphasized the need for maintaining a functional balance between responsibilities and accountability across all branches of the state. “We don’t support a system where one branch is made powerless due to the failure of another. Our goal should be to ensure a well-functioning state with accountability at every level.”

He referred to the previous National Constitutional Council (NCC), which has now been restructured as the Constitutional and Statutory Appointment Committee (SASNIC). “We believe this new committee must also incorporate additional foundational principles to prevent abuse and ensure transparency,” he said.

Sunday’s round of discussions led to near consensus among participating political parties on the 10-year term cap for the premiership, with only BNP, NDM, and BLDP initially withholding full agreement. On Wednesday, however, BNP confirmed its alignment with the proposal—albeit conditionally.

The ongoing dialogue initiated by the National Consensus Commission is aimed at fostering multi-party support for key constitutional reforms, particularly regarding the structure of executive authority and leadership tenure. While many parties have backed the 10-year prime ministerial limit, disagreements remain on how to implement checks and balances without undermining the effectiveness of governance.

BNP’s latest stance adds weight to the momentum behind introducing term limits, a proposal seen by many as a safeguard against authoritarian consolidation. However, their emphasis on conditional support highlights the complexity of reforming the political architecture in a way that both curbs excessive power and preserves functional governance.

As discussions continue, the Commission is expected to consider BNP’s concerns and explore avenues to ensure that any proposed reforms strike a balance between accountability, stability, and democratic resilience.