by 
Political parties in Bangladesh, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party (NCP), have expressed consensus on reinstating the caretaker government system to oversee elections. However, differences have emerged regarding the structure of this government, particularly on the process of appointing the chief adviser. Each party has submitted distinct proposals to the National Consensus Commission, outlining their vision for the caretaker government.
The Constitutional Reform Commission initially proposed appointing the chief adviser through the National Constitutional Council (NCC). However, following discussions with political parties, the NCC’s proposal was discarded, rendering the reform commission’s original framework for the caretaker government obsolete.
**BNP’s Proposal**
On Sunday, BNP submitted a detailed framework for the caretaker government, proposing five options for appointing the chief adviser:
1. The president, after consultations with parties represented in parliament, will appoint a qualified individual as the chief adviser.
2. If this process fails, a committee comprising the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, the speaker, and the deputy speaker will be formed, chaired by the president without voting rights.
3. If the second option fails, the committee will include a representative from the third-largest party in parliament, with the president granted voting rights.
4. If the third option fails, the committee will include representatives from opposition parties (excluding the main opposition) that secured at least 5% of the vote, with the president retaining voting rights.
5. As a last resort, the caretaker government system under the 13th Amendment could be reinstated, though all parties have agreed to exclude the president from serving as the chief adviser. However, retaining the president in this role could be considered as a final option.
**Jamaat-e-Islami’s Proposal**
Jamaat-e-Islami submitted its proposal on Monday, outlining multiple frameworks. It suggested that the caretaker government must complete national and local elections within 120 days, extendable by 60 days if necessary. If parliament is dissolved before its term ends, the caretaker government must be formed within 24 to 48 hours.
- **First Proposal**: A selection committee comprising the chief justice, prime minister, and leader of the opposition will appoint the chief adviser, with the chief justice as the chair. Within three days of its formation, the committee will consider five neutral candidates proposed by the ruling party/alliance, five by the main opposition, and two by other opposition parties. The committee will recommend one candidate to the president.
**Second Proposal**: A parliamentary committee, supervised by the speaker and managed by the parliament secretariat, will include the prime minister, opposition leader, speaker, deputy speaker, deputy leader, chief whip, opposition deputy leader, opposition chief whip, and two representatives from other opposition parties. This committee will select the chief adviser through discussions. If no consensus is reached, the committee will shortlist 13 neutral candidates (five from the ruling party, five from the main opposition, and three from other opposition parties) and select one.
- **Third Proposal**: If the above methods fail, the 13th Amendment’s caretaker government system will be reinstated, excluding the option of the president serving as chief adviser.
The NCP, which submitted its proposal in May, suggested forming an 11-member all-party committee at least three weeks before parliament’s dissolution. The committee’s composition will reflect the proportion of votes received by parliamentary parties, with a minimum threshold of 5% votes required for inclusion.
- The ruling party, main opposition, and other opposition parties will each propose three neutral candidates (nine in total) for the chief adviser role. These names will be made public.
- The all-party committee will select one candidate with an 8-3 vote. If no consensus is reached, the upper house will use a “ranked choice voting” system to appoint the chief adviser.
