Dhaka, May 11 -- Ali Riaz, vice-chair of the National Consensus Commission, has said the rise of a "fascist regime" in Bangladesh was inevitable once the 12th Amendment to the Constitution vested "absolute" power in the hands of the prime minister.

Speaking at an event held at the capital's International Mother Language Institute on Sunday, Riaz criticised the current constitutional framework, arguing that the 12th Amendment transferred "every aspect" of presidential power to the prime minister.

The event was organised by the Citizens' Coalition on the group's seven-point proposal for constitutional reform.

He said, "The Constitution allows the executive branch to function without any real accountability, giving absolute power to the p...