Dhaka, June 26 -- BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has accused the National Consensus Commission of attempting to exert excessive control over the executive branch of government.

On Thursday, Salahuddin said the commission appears focused on weakening the executive, rather than addressing the root causes of authoritarianism.

"An autocrat ruled once. That doesn't mean we dismantle the executive. Similarly, the fact that there was a dictator in a parliamentary system doesn't mean we abolish or weaken the legislature," he said.

Salahuddin stressed the need for a truly independent Election Commission, facilitated by a non-partisan caretaker government, to prevent the rise of autocracy.

"A strong democratic structure cannot b...