Professor Dr. Ali Riaz, Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, has said that the implementation of the July Charter will pave the way for a roadmap for the country’s future.
Speaking at the opening session of a meeting with political parties on Thursday (11 September) at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Dr. Riaz noted that although there were “notes of dissent” on a few points, consensus had been reached on the majority of the 84 issues discussed—reflecting a form of political agreement.
Representatives from 30 political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the NCPC, attended the meeting focused on ways to implement the July Charter.
Dr. Riaz said that although the formal meeting concluded on 31 July, several informal discussions on implementation had since taken place, including consultations with experts regarding the commitments outlined in the Charter. A panel of two former judges, three lawyers, and two law academics, as well as the Attorney General, provided opinions and advice on the process.
He emphasized that the Commission did not intend to impose anything unilaterally. “Some have said that parts of the Charter could even be implemented by the current government. After today’s discussions, we will be able to communicate all the parties’ positions to the government. The sooner we finalize this, the sooner we can present it,” he said, expressing gratitude for the continued and strong cooperation of all political parties.
Also present at the meeting as Commission members were Justice Md Emdadul Haque, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr. Md Ayub Mia, and Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider.
