Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Daily Amar Desh, has urged a shift back to a presidential system of governance, arguing that it would prevent the establishment of what he called “fascism” through repeated “fake elections” under the current parliamentary system.
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at a roundtable titled “Rewriting or Amending the Constitution” at the National Press Club on Saturday morning.
The roundtable was organized by Nagarik Forum. In his remarks, he said: “It is time to return to a presidential form of government in Bangladesh. If we adopt a presidential system and establish a balance of power with the parliament, I believe the threat of fascism in Bangladesh will be mitigated.”
He also proposed that, similar to the United States, presidential terms should be limited to two, with both the president and parliament directly elected by the people.
Rahman suggested Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus as a suitable candidate to serve as interim president, adding: “Under such a system, a chief adviser would no longer be necessary. Dr Yunus could serve both as president and chief adviser, providing unified leadership.”
He further commented on the importance of reflecting the culture and religious beliefs of Bangladesh’s 90% Muslim population in the constitution. “If the constitution does not embody these values, then what kind of constitution is it?” he questioned.
Other notable attendees included retired Justice AFM Abdur Rahman, BNP Chairperson’s Special Assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, and Nagarik Forum Chairman Abdullahil Masud.
