Tofail spells out package of reform proposals

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Awami League presidium member Tofail Ahmed Monday spelt out a package of reform proposals for his party and the statecraft, seeking checks and balances between the power of the President and the Prime Minister to avert such political crisis as the country now reeling from, reports UNB.
In his reform proposals, identical of his predecessor Abdur Razzak, he also suggested that the party president and the general secretary should not continue in their posts for more than two terms.
The same provision applies to district-committee presidents and general secretaries.
"My reform proposals are not aimed at excluding from or including some one in the party. The proposals are targeted to make the party more democratic and state functionaries transparent and accountable," he said while launching the reform recipe at a media conference at his Banani residence.
Brushing aside speculations about rift in the party following disagreements on the way of announcing the reform proposals outside party forum, Tofail asserted that none has the power to break Awami League (AL). "Those who will try to split the party will be thrown into the dustbin of history," he said.
"None has the power to split, but reform must be done... None has the right to minus anyone from the party," he told the press.
His remark relates to the 'minus' formula in the current drive for reform of political parties that envisages new leaderships replacing the party top orders, mainly of the two major parties.
Lending support to the incumbent caretaker government, which has launched the sociopolitical reforms on steam, Tofail said everything depends on the success of the interim regime.
"All should extend cooperation, instead of confrontation," said the AL stalwart and former minister.
He had a wise word for both the sides--the functionaries of the nonpolitical caretaker government and the politicians having a trying time. Advisers should not utter anything that raises doubt about the neutrality of the caretaker government and, likewise, "we should not speak anything that could sound that we are in the opposition," he said.
Tofail said his reform proposals are a reflection of his own opinion and thoughts based on the 23-point reform proposals earlier placed by the AL-led 14-party combine on July 15, 2005.
His proposals sought reform of the AL, administration, election commission, anti-corruption commission and separation of the judiciary and economic management.
The reformist AL leader's package of reforms suggests a balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister and establishment of joint leadership in decision-making of his party.
The proposals envisage that a same person cannot be holding the posts of president and general secretary for more than two terms. This provision will be applicable for president and general secretaries at all levels, including in district, upazila and thana committees.
As per a proposal, a selfsame person cannot hold party portfolio and government office simultaneously.
Organizational committees from the grassroots level will be constituted by secret ballot.
Nominations to candidates will be given through a democratic process. 'War criminal, anti-liberation element, terror or corrupt will not be given party ticket to contest any election.'
Any person convicted by the highest court of the country for a specific term for a criminal offence would not be allowed to contest election or hold any party post.
The Tofail-Razzak duo proposals envisage establishment of joint leadership in the party to ensure more democratic process in decision making, depositing party funds with a bank account and presenting a statement of income and expenditure by treasurer to the working committee every three months.