Ali Riaz, Vice President of the National Consensus Commission, expressed optimism that the long-anticipated National Consensus Charter could be finalized by July.
Speaking at the second phase of dialogues with political parties, he said, “The National Consensus Commission is committed to preparing the National Charter within July.”
The dialogue, aimed at concluding unfinished discussions with political parties, commenced today around 11:45 AM at the Doel Hall of the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in Dhaka.
Representatives from several political parties, including the BNP, Nationalist Citizens` Party (NCP), Islami Andolon, Nagorik Oikya, Gano Odhikar Parishad, and Ganosanghati Andolon, participated in the meeting.
However, Jamaat boycotted the meeting in protest against the joint declaration issued following a recent meeting in London between the Commission’s Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus and BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Ali Riaz thanked the political leaders for their cooperation and said, “We are sincerely grateful to the political parties and leaders for the cooperation they are showing. If this process continues, we hope we will achieve our desired goal.”
He further acknowledged that complete unanimity on all issues might not be possible but emphasized the importance of finding common ground in the national and state interest.
“We may not agree on everything, but we should be able to come together, even with some compromises, for the sake of the nation and the state,” he said.
Today’s agenda included discussions on several key issues like—Article 70 of the Constitution, Nomination process for the Chairman of the Standing Committee, Women’s representation in politics, Possibility of establishing a bicameral parliament (Lower and Upper Houses), The process of appointing the Chief Justice.
The Commission is scheduled to continue discussions with political parties over the next three days, on June 17, 18, and 19.
Notable figures present on behalf of the National Consensus Commission included Abdul Muid Chowdhury, Safaraj Hossain, Badiul Alam Majumdar, and Iftekharuzzaman, among others.
