New Delhi: A professor of politics and government at the Illinois State University in the US, Dr Ali Riaz has been appointed to lead Bangladesh’s constitutional reform commission. Riaz, who is also an author, former journalist, and consultant for various international organisations, has long been an outspoken advocate for “constitutional reforms” and “inclusive elections” to help establish Bangladesh as a “stable, democratic, and prosperous country”.
The interim government in Bangladesh last week announced that Prof Ali Riaz will lead the constitution reform commission, instead of Shahdeen Malik, an advocate in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
The government has formed six commissions to carry out reforms in six crucial sectors—electoral system, police administration, judiciary, anti-corruption system, public administration, and the constitution.
Speaking to ThePrint, Zi Khan Panna, a Bangladeshi advocate, constitutional expert and human rights activist, said that Prof Riaz understands Bangladesh extremely well and is a learned man, but added that there is no need to rewrite the constitution. He said a few amendments are required, which can only be brought by an elected government and that is what is the need of the hour. He added that, at best, the commission can propose constitutional reforms.
“Our constitution is excellent. We do not have a flawed constitution. Certain articles need amendments to make it more robust, but there is no need for re-writing the constitution or its overhaul, as is being perceived,” he said. “These necessary amendments, however, can be brought about only in the Parliament for which a government is required. The role of this interim government should be to make a level playing field for a free and fair election and hand over the power as soon as possible,” he added.
Describing Riaz as “very educated and honest”, Panna said, “He knows his subject well. I am sure he will do a great job of what is entrusted to him. But I reiterate that there is no need for re-writing the constitution.”
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Riaz, who also holds American citizenship, has written extensively on Bangladesh’s constitution and its politics, decades of Islamist Militancy in the country and status of democracy in South Asia.
He also testified at the US Congress on Bangladesh in 2013, in which he talked about the need for free elections, the country’s future trajectory and the way out. He also testified in 2015 and at the US Commission on International Religious Freedom in 2008.
Riaz has done his masters in mass communication and journalism from Dhaka University and his MA in communication from University of Hawaiʻi (UH). He also did his PhD in political science from UH under the East West Center fellowship.
According to his profile on the website of Wilson Centre, a think tank he is associated with, Riaz has previously taught at universities in Bangladesh, England and South Carolina. He also worked as a broadcast journalist at the BBC World Service in London, and was a research fellow at Yusof Ishak Institute (formerly Institute of Southeast Asian Studies) at Singapore.
According to the website, his research interests include Islamist politics, South Asian politics, and political economy of media.
He has also served as a consultant to various international organisations, including the United Nations Development Programme, the Department for International Development, the Social Science Research Council, and the Bertelsmann Transformation Index.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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