Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) today joined talks with the National Consensus Commission for the third day to give its opinion on the recommendations made by the five commissions. The talks began at 11:10 am at the LD Hall of the National Assembly. Earlier, the meeting was adjourned after day-long discussions on Thursday and Sunday.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a four-member delegation, including BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed, is participating in the talks. The other members of the BNP delegation are Ismail Zabiullah, a member of the advisory council of the party’s BNP Chairperson, lawyer Ruhul Quddus Kajal, and former secretary Abu Md. Moniruzzaman Khan. National Consensus Commission Vice President Professor Ali Riaz is presiding over the meeting, which includes commission members Badiul Alam Majumder, Iftekharuzzaman, Justice Emdadul Haque, Safar Raj Hossain, and Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor (Consensus) Monir Haider.
BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed stated that discussions over the past two days covered topics such as the republic, principles of state governance, fundamental rights, the legal department, judiciary, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), electoral system, executive branch, and constitutional reform. He expressed hope that the discussions would be completed today.
Following the ousting of the Awami League government on August 5, 11 commissions were formed in two phases by the interim government to oversee reforms in critical state sectors. As part of this initiative, meetings are being held with various political parties under the auspices of the National Consensus Commission, which comprises five reform commissions.
The National Consensus Commission, led by Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus, began its activities on February 15, aiming to build a national consensus on the reform commissions’ recommendations. The first meeting with all political parties, including the BNP, was held at the Foreign Service Academy on that date.
Subsequently, the Consensus Commission sought opinions from 39 political parties on the recommendations of the Constitutional Reform Commission, Public Administration Reform Commission, Electoral Reform Commission, Judiciary Reform Commission, and Anti-Corruption Commission. Thirty-four parties presented their opinions, and the commission is now holding separate meetings based on those submissions.
The commission has already completed the initial stage of discussions with 15 political parties, and the third stage of discussions with the BNP is currently underway.