Farashuddin proposes constitutional status for Bangladesh Bank governor
Economist Professor Dr Mohammed Farashuddin has called for constitutional status for the Bangladesh Bank governor, as part of comprehensive reforms to bolster democratic governance and enforce financial discipline.
Professor Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of East West University and former Governor of Bangladesh Bank, made the proposal during the eighth Nahreen Khan Memorial Lecture at the university's Manzur Elahi Auditorium today.
His keynote address, "Constitutional Reform and Democratic Governance: A Bangladesh Perspective", outlined a series of institutional reforms.
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He advocated for introducing proportional representation in the Upper House of Parliament, replacing the current system used for the Lower House in general elections.
He recommended that members of Parliament be permitted to vote independently on legislative matters—except for constitutional amendments, no-confidence motions and money bills—and urged lawmakers to refrain from direct involvement in local administration and development activities.
He also proposed granting the President authority over appointments to constitutional positions and forming a high-powered administrative reform commission to streamline public administration.
For urban development, he called for a Metropolitan Authority, modelled after Delhi, to oversee the planned development of areas surrounding Dhaka.
He stressed the need for automated tax collection, merit-based and politically neutral public administration appointments, and a governance system grounded in accountability.
He said these measures would help establish equality, dignity and social justice in line with the aspirations of the Liberation War.
He expressed optimism that Bangladesh could reach a $1 trillion economy within the next 10 years if the proposed reforms and development targets are met.
East West University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Shams Rahman; Dr Fakrul Alam, retired Professor of English at the University of Dhaka; senior journalist Sohrab Hasan; and Treasurer retired Air Commodore Ishfaq Ilahi Choudhury also spoke at the event.
Members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, students, administrative staff and relatives of Nahreen Khan attended the programme.
The university organises the annual lecture in memory of Nahreen Khan, an East West University alumna and daughter of the late Dr Akbar Ali Khan, economist and former adviser to the caretaker government.
