Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher announced that major political parties have reached an understanding to form a constitutionally mandated specialised committee to oversee the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies after each national census. Speaking after the Consensus Commission’s dialogue at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Dr Taher emphasised that accurate and transparent delimitation is crucial as it significantly influences election outcomes.
He explained that for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, a technical expert committee under the Election Commission will be formed to carry out the delimitation process due to limited time. However, parties also agreed on creating a permanent constitutional mechanism to activate this committee after every census, ensuring it operates as an independent constitutional body.
Initially, there was disagreement over naming it a ‘Commission’ or ‘Committee’, with Jamaat preferring ‘Commission’ and BNP opposing constitutional provisions in favour of ordinary law. After extended discussions, a consensus was reached to adopt the term ‘Committee’ and enshrine it in the Constitution. Dr Taher recalled that constituency boundaries had been altered in the past to benefit certain individuals, especially during the Awami League’s tenure, highlighting the need for transparent and expert-led delimitation.
