"I would welcome if the constitution-related committee is formed now although its suggestions have to be adopted in next parliament," he said at a press briefing at his Gulshan residence in the capital yesterday.

Bhuiyan's comprehensive reform proposals concern the Election Commission, judiciary, Anti-Corruption Commission, Public Service Commission, local government, appointment of an ombudsman and some other vital national issues.

Earlier, on June 25, the BNP leader announced his proposals for changes in the party constitution.

He proposed yesterday that opposition parties will never boycott parliament under any circumstances and membership of parliament would be cancelled if a member remains absent from the House for 30 consecutive days.

Bhuiyan stressed balancing the powers of the president and prime minister as, he pointed out, the latter holds the supreme power in the existing system of governance.

He also proposed changes in Clause 70 of the constitution regarding floor crossing by members of parliament.

According to his proposal, members from a ruling party could vote independently on any bill or notice except the finance bill, constitution amendment bill, no-confidence motion and decision of parliamentary party.

"National Security Council is playing important role in different countries to help ensure security and face crises... This institution has a fruitful role in ensuring balance of power in the governance system," he said in his proposal.

Substantiating his contention, the BNP leader said national councils are operating effectively in countries like US, UK, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Malaysia. If a Security Council is formed in Bangladesh, it will help protect the country's independence, sovereignty and ensure security.

"It will also contribute to ensuring law and order, curbing terrorism and militancy, and protecting energy, food and water resources," he said.

He replied in the negative when asked if there is any link between the army chief's reported reform proposals and those of his. He however said they will also take the army chief's proposals into consideration.

In reply to a question, the former LGRD and cooperatives minister said some of his proposals can easily be implemented right now and others like amendments to constitution will have to be approved in parliament.

"A committee like the Law Commission can be formed now so that they (committee) can make necessary proposals after scrutinising our proposals," he said. Parliament can adopt those later.

Asked about the BNP council, he said, "We will tell the party chairperson (about it) after completing preparations to hold the party council and we will finalise it when she gives a date."

He also said the provision concerning the party chairperson, as proposed by him earlier, that a person would not be eligible for this post more than twice would also be applicable for the post of party secretary general.

"The provision would also be applicable for those who have already become chairperson or secretary general (of BNP) for two terms," he said.

In his 13-point proposal, Mannan Bhuiyan said all parliamentary standing committees should be formed in the second session of parliament with provisions for holding their meetings regularly and taking their recommendations into consideration.

He proposed that the chairmen and members of the committees should be rationally selected from both the ruling and opposition parties but the chairman of public accounts committee must be nominated from the opposition.

Bhuiyan also proposed for two deputy speakers in parliament -- one of them to be from opposition parties.

"Opposition parties will never [be able to] boycott the parliament under any circumstances and membership of the parliament would be cancelled if a member is absent in the house for 30 consecutive days," he said adding that the opposition parties must be given a fair amount of chances to speak at the session and if necessary, amendments should be brought in the rules of procedures.

According to the existing provision, membership of a member is cancelled if the member is absent for 90 consecutive days in the house without the permission of the speaker.

"The opposition parties should be constructive and programmes like hartals and blockades should be banned considering public sufferings," he said. He also recommended stern action against destruction of properties under the cover of political programmes.

"Ombudsman should be appointed to ensure administrative transparency, accountability and good governance," said the former minister.

Regarding Public Service Commission (PSC), he said the system of appointments at the PSC should be changed so that honest, competent and neutral persons can be appointed in the future.

Illegal intervention in the administration needs to be stopped, accountability in it has to be ensured and the officials have to be barred from having political affiliations. Promotion and postings in the administration should be based on merit. The administration has to be regulated to make it more efficient, Bhuiyan said.

About the Election Commission, he said, "An independent election commission secretariat, direct budget allocation for the commission, increased manpower and the capacity to formulate [its own] rules are necessary to make the commission stronger and [truly] independent."

The BNP secretary general proposed to ensure full independence of the judiciary by ending government interference and appointing competent judges in all levels.

He also proposed to take effective measures for strengthening all local government bodies.

Lauding the government for its steps that turned the Anti-Corruption Commission into an effective institution, he called upon the government to adopt a new appointment system so that competent and neutral persons can be appointed there in the future.

Bhuiyan criticised the existing political culture and said that the promulgation of state of emergency has created an opportunity to change that culture. He urged all to work together so that a fair political culture can be attained for the next generation.

Prior to announcing the revised and comprehensive proposal, Bhuiyan talked with senior leaders of the party at his residence.

Among others, BNP standing committee members Lt Gen (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, vice president MK Anwar, Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf and Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, joint secretary generals Ashraf Hossain and Selima Rahman, advisers to BNP chairperson Inam Ahmed Chowdhury, Mofazzal Karim, MA Hakim and ZA Khan, former state ministers Rezaul Karim and Zafrul Islam Chowdhury, former lawmakers Justice Mozammel Haque, Rezaul Bari Dina, SA Sultan, Abdul Hye and Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul were present.