Change constitution to make political parties accountable

Political scientists, academics, development and rights activists, and members of civil society yesterday proposed inclusion of a chapter in the country's constitution for political parties, aimed at ensuring their transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and internal democracy.

In this regard, the Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka yesterday placed an 11-point draft framework of the chapter, which includes the clear definition of a political party, its goals, missions and objectives, internal structure, its eligibility for financial support from the state and liability.

With support from the UNDP, the department organised a national dialogue, "Developing framework for political parties: Chapter in the Bangladesh constitution", at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban, DU.

Prepared by Prof Imtiaz Ahmed, Prof Amena Mohsin and Prof Delwar Hosain, a thematic paper was presented at the beginning of the dialogue.

In drafting the framework, the three professors went through the constitutions of 136 countries and finally selected constitutions of 25 countries to take help.

Currently, there are only two or three lines in Bangladesh's constitution, which speak of the political parties, they said. 

"Political party includes a group or combination of persons who operate within or outside parliament under a distinctive name and who hold themselves out for the purpose of propagating a political opinion or engaging in any other political activity," says Article 152 of the constitution.

"But the said article is not only vague but it also remains problematic as it does not define what political entails. The word opinion is so subjective that it can be interpreted to imply anything. It does not talk of a vision or mission for political parties. The article also does not bring political within a regulatory framework. There is no provision for institutionalisation, monitoring, accountability or transparency of the political parties," Prof Imtiaz said.

He also said there were many countries which had taken political parties seriously in the constitution.

Though the Representation of the People Order provides a guideline, it cannot be a substitute for a constitutional guideline, he said.

The professors said a party, which does not allow any space for practicing democracy within itself, could not be expected to steer the country towards a stable democratic system.

The German constitution says, "Political party's internal organization must conform to democratic principles. They must publicly account for their assets and for the sources and use of their funds."

While summarising the constitutions of 25 countries, Prof Imtiaz said the financial accountability of political parties was a hallmark in most constitutions while the constitutions also emphasised the need for internal democracy in political parties to establish democracy in a country.