The dissatisfaction of political parties on the overall activities of National Consensus Commission is increasing. The leaders of the parties has raised questions over many issues, especially over the progress of dialogues, the procrastination in decision making, the ‘effort’ to prolong the dialogue process. In addition, they raised question over the process of consensus over the issues.
The parties have told the commission that it must first decide whether the commission wants 100% consensus or a single majority in decision-making. Meanwhile, leaders of some political parties are expressing disappointment in every meeting of the National Consensus Commission dialogue. They say if we walk towards consensus like this, it will take time until the end of time. According to them, the commission's negative attitude is being noticed on some issues. In addition, in some cases, there have been allegations that the commission is putting some kind of pressure on the parties.
The second phase of dialogue is now underway with the political parties. 30 parties including BNP, Jamaat, and NCP are participating in the dialogue held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. The National Consensus Commission wants to create a national charter based on 166 opinions, which has already become widely known as the 'July Charter'. According to the plan, the charter will contain issues of state reform. And signatures will be taken from all political parties. But questions have arisen about the national consensus. The leaders of the political parties have raised questions about whether all the political parties will be able to agree on the basic reform issues during this period. According to them, there are various types of disagreements even within the agreement.
BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has alleged that there is a tendency to keep the executive division in the highest ‘control’ within the National Consensus Commission. He said, ‘Many of you have talked a lot about reforms here. But no one has expressed disappointment. We are all optimistic people. Discussions are going on. Maybe more than that, there is food and drink going on. It takes a lot of time. But I believe that we will be able to come to a consensus at one place.”
National Citizens Party (NCP) has already raised questions about the dialogue of the National Consensus Commission. In addition, the NCP and the Gano Adhikar Parishad have also raised questions about the political positions of the political parties that have been invited to the meeting and the reason for their invitation to the dialogue, as they do not have party registration. Ariful Islam Adib, head of the political liaison committee of the NCP dialogue, said, “I have raised questions about the statement of the president and chief advisor of the National Consensus Commission. Earlier, they made six proposals on the method by which the National Charter or July Charter would be prepared on the basis of national consensus. They were through an ordinance before the election or a referendum before the election or a referendum during the election or a Constituent Assembly election or a legislative assembly election. Another proposal was constitutional reform in the parliament after the election. As the president of the Consensus Commission, he has now leaned towards one of the six proposals, the proposal given by BNP.”
Bangladesh LDP President Shahadat Hossain Selim told The Bangladesh Pratidin, “I am disappointed with the overall activities of the Consensus Commission. The process in which they are moving forward with the discussions is creating a long-winded process. The same issue is being discussed repeatedly in the dialogue, and two or three people from the same party are giving speeches on the same issue. If the commission wants, it can hold the dialogue with the parties in a shorter time. Apart from that, I think it is not clear what their position is in making decisions.”
However, Shahadat Hossain Selim commented that there is no chance of the dialogue failing.
President of the Gono Odhikar Parishad Nurul Haque Nur said, "There is an allegation that the dialogue or discussion of the National Consensus Commission is being conducted by giving priority to a particular party. Some parties, including Jamaat, are making this allegation. We have also said that many people have played an important role in the mass movement here, beyond all political parties. All professional organizations, including journalists, need to be consulted. I do not know which party was selected on which criteria. In many cases, many have also raised questions about registered and unregistered parties."
He said, "There has been no progress in making decisions on many basic issues. Most of them are still pending."
CPB general secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said, "They have written some columns in their books on how to make the commission free from party influence, how to stop money games in elections, how to make it free from muscle power, how to make it free from communal regional propaganda, how to make it free from the reign of fear, and even how to make it free from administrative manipulation. But they are not bringing them to the public for discussion. I think it is an urgent duty. We have not been able to enter into that discussion yet.”
Commission vice-chairman professor Ali Riaz said, “There may be arguments and differences at the negotiating table. These are normal. However, our goal is to continue the dialogue until July 6 or 7. We expect that we will be able to agree on many issues by then. After that, we will start working on the July Charter.”
Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami boycotted the commission’s dialogue for a day. They boycotted it by questioning the government’s neutral role. Again, representatives of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Gono Forum walked out of the dialogue for some time, alleging that they were allowed to speak less in the dialogue. Again, some senior leaders were seen sitting in the back row as a symbolic protest, dissatisfied with the seating arrangement in the dialogue.
(Translated by Lutful Hoque)
