Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's proposals for state reformation has been presented on 9th October, Wednesday noon at Hotel Westin in Gulshan, Dhaka. At the onset of the program, Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman delivered a welcome speech in front of the intellectuals, editors, journalists, columnists and researchers, who were present on the occasion. Later, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher read out the 'state reform proposal'.

Jamaat’s Central Executive Council Member and party’s Central Publicity and Media Secretary Matiur Rahman Akanda hosted the program. Among others, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Professor Mujibur Rahman and Maulana ANM Shamsul Islam, Assistant Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum, Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, Hamidur Rahman Azad, Maulana Abdul Halim, Advocate Ehsanul Mahboob Zubair, Central Executive Council Member Saiful Alam Khan Milon, Mubarak Hossain, Central Executive Council Member and Dhaka South City Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, Central Executive Council Member and Dhaka North City Ameer Md. Salim Uddin, and Central President of Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir Monjurul Islam were present on the occasion.

Jamaat Ameer in his welcome speech said, "We all know that a party and their allies were in power for last 15 and another half years. The countrymen were unhappy about that regime. They victimized the people of Bangladesh. No one was spared from their misrule. Then in Last July, students started a movement demanding the abolition of the quota system. Later this movement turned into a mass movement of students and the general masses and finally the government was dethroned. Many people gave their lives, many others became were injured, crippled, many of them lost their eyes. Hundreds of thousands of people have been harassed in connection with thousands of cases. They lost their homes. We have deep respect for all of them.

We believe that such a desired change has come in the country due to the collective efforts of all quarters. It is precisely political parties and parties that have been subjected to torture during the last fascist regime and Jamaat-e-Islami has become the worst victims of such persecution and torture. We have lost our 11 top leaders and 5 of them were sentenced to death by a tribunal formed by the previous ruling party men. Based on the evidences of tutored and trained witness and also some false evidences, they had handed down perverse judgement against our leaders. In addition, many people have gone missing and abducted. Many people have been forced to live in the infamous secret prison known as Ayanaghar. They have been detained not for days, not for weeks, not for months, but for years. Their families did not know their whereabouts. A very lucky few have ever returned from that infamous prison cell. This nation does not know what happened to the rest of the victims yet. We are equally distressed and tensed with the victim families.

He also said that the dark chapter of misrule was removed by the blessings of Almighty Allah on August 5. For this, I am thanking Almighty Allah once again Alhamdulillah. In the end, this movement became successful in the hands of our youth. I once again send them my love, respect and best wishes.

Jamaat Ameer then said, “On behalf of our beloved organization, our sincere care is for you and the nation. We are presenting the idea of what fundamental reforms we think are necessary. We wish you all the best and thank you again.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's 'State Reform Proposal' is presented to the nation:
"State Reform Proposal"
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
9 October 2024

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
I am thankful to Almighty Allah for giving us the opportunity to present the proposals for reforming the state of Bangladesh, which has recently freed from the grip of autocracy - Alhamdulillah. May Allah accept those who gave their lives in the historic mass movement of students last July-August as martyrs. I am praying for speedy recovery of the injured. I would like to express deepest condolences to the families of the dead and injured.

On December 29, 2008, Awami League illegally seized power by negotiating with the then army-backed government. They established a dictatorship by axing the constitution along with the civil administration, law enforcement and judiciary to take control of the country. They changed various articles of the constitution at their convenience. The Fifteenth Amendment was passed on 30th June, 2011. Through this amendment, the system of caretaker government was abolished. To consolidate their power, Awami League destroyed the executive, judiciary, electoral system, constitutional and democratic institutions, education, culture, history and religious values of the country. The state's law enforcement forces were used as a tool to suppress the opponents. Corruption, bank robberies, stock market scams and money laundering have ruined country's economy. Thousands of cases were filed against the leaders and activists of the opposition political parties. The fascist government also conducted severe repression against the opposition leaders and activists by dint of murder, enforced disappearance and also by issuing false, and fabricated cases.

At the final stage of the anti-discrimination student movement, dictator Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country on August 5. The movement of the people became successful in exchange for one and a half thousand lives. The interim government was formed on August 8. The main responsibility of this government is to complete the basic reforms within the shortest possible time and organize the 13th National Parliament elections and hand over the power to the elected representatives. In order to make elections free, fair and meaningful, some institutions related to elections need extensive reform. Elections cannot be conducted without reforms. On behalf of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, proposals are being presented seeking reform of the important and main sectors of the state.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman
Ameer
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

1. Law and Justice
● A fair and specific policy should be formulated for the appointment of judges to the High Courts.
● Dual system of rule should be removed from the Judiciary.
● Effective measures should be taken to separate the Judiciary from the Executive.
● A separate secretariat should be established under the Supreme Court, separate from the Ministry of Law.
● In the interest of ensuring justice, necessary amendments to the existing laws and laws should be made in harmony with the public values .
● 'Cyber Security Act-2023' and all other black laws should be repealed.
● Divisional level High Court Benches should be established to reduce the length of trial.
● Separate Judicial Commission should be constituted to ensure proper independence of lower courts.
● Independent investigation committee should be set up to investigate criminal cases.
● Provision should be made for disposal of civil cases within a maximum of 5 years and criminal cases within a maximum of 3 years.

2. Parliamentary reform
● A Deputy Speaker should be nominated from the main opposition party in Parliament.
● Institutional arrangements should be adopted for the formation of a shadow cabinet headed by the Leader of the Opposition.
● Adequate time should be given to opposition party members in Parliament.

3. Electoral reform
● Proportional Representation (PR) should be introduced in the National Parliament elections.
● Caretaker system of government should be inserted permanently in the constitution to ensure fair and transparent elections.
● EVM voting system, which have been already rejected in various countries should be abolished to ensure transparency of elections.
● No Government servant can be a candidate for any election within at least 3 years after leaving his/her service.
● Initiatives should be taken to organize local government elections in a non-partisan manner.
● To ensure participatory elections, the system of registration of political parties, introduced in 2008, is inconsistent with the constitution, and it should be abolished.
● A search committee will be formed comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice to appoint the Election Commissioner and other commissioners.
● Measures should be taken to hold the National Elections on multiple days.
● NID-Management to be brought under the Election Commission.

4. Law and order reform
a) Reform of Police Force
● The Police Act enacted by the British Government in 1861 should be amended and a policy guideline for the police should be developed.
● Independent Police Commission should be formed for recruitment, transfer, promotion and dismissal of police personnel.
● In the matter of appointment, transfer, promotion and dismissal, no political, non-political person can make any recommendation and all kinds of party and personal influence or interference must be stopped.
● Religious education and moral instruction should be included in the police training manuals.
● The use of lethal weapons by the police should be stopped.
● During remand, interrogation should be taken place in presence of counsel for accused and for the female accused, the presence of her guardian must be ensured during interrogation.
● There should be provision for constituting police tribunal by judicial members.
● Police duties and other facilities should be improved.
● The 'Police Act' should be modernized by necessary amendment, extension and correction.

b) RAB reforms
● Necessary reforms must be completed to restore public confidence in RAB and other specialized forces.
● Those who had served in the RAB for the last 15 and a half years must be taken back to their respective forces and cannot be re-employed in the RAB.
● All types of extrajudicial killings must be stopped.
● A cell should be constituted for monitoring the overall activities of RAB. If any RAB member is found involved in any illegal activity, this cell will frame a complaint against him.
● Formulate and ensure adherence to media policies.

5. Public administration reform
● Merit, efficiency and integrity should prevail over lobbying, recommendation and party loyalty in recruiting, transferring, posting officers.
● Job recruitment should be completed within a reasonable time from notification to recruitment without delay.
● There should be no application cost for government jobs.
● The age limit for job application should be set at 35 years for next 2 years and next age limit at 33 years permanently and retirement age at 62 years.
● Age discrimination should be eliminated in all cases of job application.
● Special anti-corruption measures must be taken in all government offices so that no one gets an opportunity to commit corruption. Necessary monitoring should be arranged as well.
● Prevailing inter-cadre disparity in employment should be removed.
● Those who got jobs in government jobs during the previous Awami League led government by taking the chance of question paper leakage, corruption, fraud and party considerations, should be cancelled.

6. Corruption
● Honest, fair, competent and competent people who have been tested should be appointed in the Anti-Corruption Commission.
● Accountability must be ensured in all sectors of the state.
● Anti-Corruption Commission should be strengthened and given freedom to act impartially.
● Steps should be taken to formulate and implement appropriate provisions to bring back the money, which has been laundered from the country during the previous government.
● Ministry-based anti-corruption commission should be formed.
● Anti-Corruption Commission should be reformed; manpower and scope should be increased.
● Clear legislation should be enacted to take action against those who illegally occupy state and public resources.

7. Constitutional reform
● Provision for balance of power between President and Prime Minister should be attached.
● The same person cannot be Prime Minister for more than two consecutive terms.

8. Educational and cultural reforms
a) Reforms are proposed in the education sector in the light of existing problems
● Secondary from VI to 10th and 11th and 12th as higher secondary. 8th standard public examination should be canceled and the previous examination system should be restored.
● History of the 2024 People's Uprising should be incorporated in the textbooks objectively with due importance.
● Material against religious values should be removed from textbooks of all classes.
● The life details of Prophet Muhammad (pbuH) should be included for all classes. Articles containing biographies of great men and women should be added along with their biographies.
● Independent Ibtedayee madrassa should be established. The existing independent Ibtedayee Madrasa should be nationalized.
● At least one Kamil Madrasa should be managed by government cost in each district.
● Technical and vocational education should be incorporated as mainstream in general education.
● A permanent education commission called Department of Higher Education should be formed.
● The education commission to be constituted with the representatives of all categories including general, aliya, communal formed to facilitate the reform in the education sector.

b) Cultural reform
● Different types of films should be made in the light of historical movement, struggle and values of the nation.
● In order to commemorate the historical days of the nation, arrangements should be made to observe them under state patronage by declaring them as special days.
● Various entertainment programs including dramas, movies should be made free of obscenity. Provisions should be made to refrain from denigrating different religions, particularly Islam, in dramas, movies and other content.
● Local nature, traditions should be brought in various paintings, sculptures instead of creating sculptures based on animal statues.
● Promotion of educational programs in all media should be ensured.

9. Foreign Affairs Reforms
● Reciprocity should be maintained on the basis of equality and fairness with all democratic countries in foreign relations.
● International rivers water sharing agreement should be made between China, Nepal, India and Bangladesh under UN mediation.
● Trade relations with ASEAN countries should be increased.
● All agreements made with other states during the tenure of the previous government should be reviewed. In this case, a review commission should be formed.
● Bangladesh should take the initiative to join the ASEAN alliance.
● SAARC restructuring initiative should be taken strongly.
● If there is an agreement or compromise agreement with any country, those agreements and memorandum of understanding should be placed in the next parliamentary session for approval following a detailed discussion.

10. Ministry of Religion reform
● Islamic Foundation Bangladesh should be developed as a meaningful institution for the welfare of the nation.
● Imam training academies should be converted into an independent organizations or departments, so that they can function independently.
● The Islamic Mission should be established as an independent entity directly under the Ministry.
● Separate Directorate should be established for Hajj management.
● Effective initiatives should be taken to reduce the cost of Hajj and Umrah.
● A research institute should be established in the Islamic Foundation, where the scholars of the country will be involved.
● All controversial books should be canceled and its publication to be stopped.
● Ensure the right of all religious people so that they conduct their religious activities smoothly.