National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz on Sunday hoped for signing the July Charter based on the consensus of all parties on the martyrdom day of Shaheed Abu Sayed.
"Different proposals placed through talks were kept in mind because we have to reach a consensus through discussions. The July month will begin after a day, and the Commission is committed to adopting the national charter within July," he said.
Prof Riaz was delivering his opening remark at the beginning of a discussion of the commission with the political parties starting at the Foreign Service Academy here at about 10.30 am.
He said: "We had hoped that we all would sign the July Charter on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Shaheed Abu Sayed, but it depends on you. We have to go through a conclusion of the process of preparing July Charter within July."
He said the Commission is just performing an important responsibility entrusted by the government for state reforms.
In the context of discussing the proposals placed by different reform commissions with various political parties, Prof Riaz said, the Commission had to be flexible on various issues based on the opinions of the parties as the political parties represent the country's people.
"And you (political parties leaders) will govern the country one day," he said.
He added that the issue of state reforms is a huge task and in the future, they must ensure that no constitutional amendment is made against the wishes of the people.
"This issue needs to be constitutionally ensured. At present, there is a need to limit the power of the individuals because individualism was formed in the governance in the past and we cannot rule out that fear in the future," he said.
"So, we have to ensure these safeguards constitutionally, through the independence of the legal system and the judiciary," Prof Riaz said.
Recalling the sacrifice of the July martyrs and injured, he said they have been able to come here today through huge oppression, great sacrifice and endless torture of many people.
"We have to reach a certain point. This is our responsibility, our duty," he added.
In second round of talks, the National Consensus Commission is holding meeting with the political parties for the seven day today to reach a consensus on various issues of state reform and preparing the July Charter.
Presided over by Prof Riaz, the meeting was attended by Commission members Justice Emdadul Haque, Badiul Alam Majumder, Dr Md Ayub Mia, Dr Iftekharuzzaman and Safar Raj Hossain and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haider.
Representatives of 30 political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP), Ganaodhikar Parishad, Gana Sanghati Party, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Biplabi Workers Party, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party joined the discussion.
Bd-Pratidin English/ AM
