The National Consensus Commission of Bangladesh aims to finalize a National Charter by July, according to its Vice President, Professor Ali Riaz. The announcement came during the second phase of discussions with political parties, held at Doyel Hall of the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Tuesday.
“We are committed to preparing the National Charter by July,” Riaz stated in his opening remarks. “The cooperation we are receiving from political parties is encouraging, and we are grateful for their time and engagement.”
The discussions were attended by representatives from various political groups including BNP, NCP, Islami Andolan, Nagorik Oikya, Ganoadhikar Parishad, and Ganasanghati Andolon. Notably, no representatives from Jamaat-e-Islami were present.
Riaz emphasized the importance of building consensus rather than unanimous agreement:
“We may not agree on every issue, but we can still come together for the sake of the nation. There’s no guarantee we’ll finish everything, but continuing this process increases our chances.”
Key constitutional and structural reforms are on the table. Article 70 of the constitution, selection of standing committee chairpersons, enhanced women’s representation, and a proposal for a bicameral parliament are expected to be part of the dialogue. Other topics include the judicial appointment process, specifically the method for selecting the Chief Justice.
The commission’s series of consultations is scheduled to continue over three days—June 17, 18, and 19, aimed at gathering views from across the political spectrum to build a shared vision for governance and reform.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
