Professor Ali Riaz, Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, has expressed optimism that the commission will be able to reach a substantial position by mid-July through ongoing political dialogues.
Speaking at the opening of the eighth day of the second phase of talks with political parties, held on Wednesday at the Doel Multipurpose Hall of the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Riaz said, “I’m hopeful that we will reach a position, possibly by the third week of July.”
Today’s discussions focused on unresolved topics from previous sessions, including the formation of appointment committees for constitutional and statutory bodies, the proposal for a bicameral legislature, the electoral process for an upper house, and the roles and responsibilities of such a chamber.
A total of 30 political parties took part in the dialogue, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), and Islami Andolan Bangladesh.
The session began with a one-minute silence to honor the martyrs of the July movement.
Reflecting on the events of last year, Ali Riaz said, “One year ago, we all took to the streets united.
Today, we are united again—this time in discussion—to restructure the state so we can build a system of accountability where democratic rights are protected, and where enforced disappearances, killings, and extrajudicial executions no longer occur.
This is your achievement, your activists’ achievement, and a contribution from citizens.”
He referred to last July’s mass uprising, which led to the fall of an authoritarian regime, as a people’s victory.
“But that victory must not be short-lived; it must be safeguarded. Reforms are the path to that protection,” he added.
Riaz acknowledged that progress has been uneven. “Sometimes we move forward in discussions, sometimes we fall short and feel disappointed. Still, with everyone’s cooperation, I believe we can reach a common ground.”
The session was moderated by Monir Haydar, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser. Other key members of the National Consensus Commission present included Badiul Alam Majumdar, Justice Md. Emdadul Haque, Iftekharuzzaman, and Md. Ayub Miah.
