Political leaders from across Bangladesh struck major deals on changing how the country handles presidential pardons and court systems. All 30 parties attending the talks agreed that presidents should stop giving free passes to criminals without asking victims first. Professor Ali Riaz told reporters that this marked a huge breakthrough after nine days of heated discussions. The parties want to rewrite the constitution to force presidents to check with crime victims before letting anyone off the hook. Leaders worry that past governments used presidential pardons to help their corrupt friends escape punishment.
The second big agreement involves spreading High Court power across all eight major cities around the country. Right now people have to travel to Dhaka for most serious court cases. Party representatives decided that each division needs its own permanent High Court branch to serve local communities better. The main Supreme Court will stay in the capital but regional courts will handle cases closer to home. This change should make justice more accessible to ordinary people living outside Dhaka.
The BNP party pushed back against some ideas about how to manage the pardon system. They said the next elected government should write the new laws instead of the current interim administration. Party leaders could not agree on creating a special six-member board to oversee presidential clemency decisions. The talks will continue with more discussions planned about emergency powers and other constitutional reforms. These negotiations aim to prevent future dictatorships from taking control of the government.
The second big agreement involves spreading High Court power across all eight major cities around the country. Right now people have to travel to Dhaka for most serious court cases. Party representatives decided that each division needs its own permanent High Court branch to serve local communities better. The main Supreme Court will stay in the capital but regional courts will handle cases closer to home. This change should make justice more accessible to ordinary people living outside Dhaka.
The BNP party pushed back against some ideas about how to manage the pardon system. They said the next elected government should write the new laws instead of the current interim administration. Party leaders could not agree on creating a special six-member board to oversee presidential clemency decisions. The talks will continue with more discussions planned about emergency powers and other constitutional reforms. These negotiations aim to prevent future dictatorships from taking control of the government.
