14th Amendment

First, the number of women's seats in parliament is going to be raised. However, the mere raising of the number of such seats was never considered as important as having the women candidates elected directly. It needs hardly any elaboration that directly elected women members will not only feel empowered but also be truly representative of their constituencies. To be frank, this was an election pledge of the ruling party included in its manifesto and oft-repeated since then. The other major party, the Awami League, is committed to the same plank of direct election for women. So the two major parties have had a consensus on the issue.

Since the opposition will be attending Sunday's parliament session and direct election of women is an outstanding pledge of both the parties, it is a grand opportunity for the government to initiate a dialogue with the opposition on the question. This will help effect a breakthrough in this area by acting upon the consensus that already exists. By one stroke, they will have served democracy and the cause of women's empowerment and brought the opposition into a collaborative exercise on a vital issue. All these are ample reason for the government to take a fresh approach to the matter.

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As for the use of portraits of prime minister and president in government offices, we believe this should not be part of any constitutional provision. The matter should be kept above all controversy and treated as more of a custom than a constitutional obligation.

On the question of raising the retirement age of Supreme Court judges, a segment of public opinion could be discerning a political agenda behind it. In principle, we are not opposed to a higher age-limit for the Judges' retirement. But given the time and the environment of political suspicion, the exalted image of the highest judiciary should be protected even from any suggestion of controversy. As such, this should also be rethought.

In fact, the entire gamut of the amendment proposal needs recasting in order to receive a broad-based endorsement.