Five new reform commissions expected in two to three days

When asked for an update on the newly formed reform commissions, Environment and Forest Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said on Monday that the members’ lists are nearly finalised, with the full announcement expected within the next two or three days.

In mid-October, the interim government announced the names of the heads of four new reform commissions focusing on health, mass media, workers’ rights and women's affairs. At the time, it was said that the full committee lists would be announced within seven to ten days.

However, nearly three weeks on, the full commissions have yet to be constituted.

In a meeting held on October 17, the Council of Advisors decided to form these four new commissions.

Following the meeting, Environment and Forest Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan made the decision public and announced the names of the heads of each commission: National Prof Dr AK Azad Khan for health, Kamal Ahmed for media, Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed for labour, and Shirin Parvin for women’s affairs.

Adviser Rizwana Hasan further informed that the names of all commission members would be announced within a week to ten days.

Additionally, in a subsequent Advisors Council meeting on October 31, it was decided to establish another commission on reforming the local government sector.

As these new commissions are being formed, the six previously established reform commissions—focused on electoral reform, police administration, judiciary, anti-corruption, public administration and constitutional reform—have commenced operations. on Monday, the heads of these six commissions had a meeting with the Chief Advisor.

All these commissions were expected to begin their activities from October 1, with the target of completing their work within three months.

Sources suggest that due to prior controversies surrounding members’ appointments, the government is thoroughly reviewing the names in order to avoid potential disputes before making the names public.