Dhaka: Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, Prof. Ali Riaz, announced that the commission’s primary goal is to develop a National Charter that will serve to fully restore democracy in Bangladesh. This announcement was made during a dialogue with Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote at the LD Hall of the National Parliament.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Prof. Ali Riaz emphasized the need to achieve consensus within a specified timeframe through discussion. He highlighted that political parties and alliances must be prepared to compromise to facilitate state reconstruction and establish a democratic order. Prof. Riaz acknowledged the diverse ideological perspectives presented by various political groups and expressed optimism that all parties would prioritize national interest and democratic reconstruction over individual positions.
Referring to last year’s student-led mass uprising in July, Prof. Riaz stated that it had laid the foundation for national unity, which is crucial for the country’s advancement. He stressed the importance of coming together on fundamental issues of state-building and governance, while acknowledging that complete agreement on all matters is unnecessary. The mission of the National Consensus Commission, he noted, is to reach common ground on these critical issues.
Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote Coordinator and NPP Chairman, Fariduzzaman Farhad, highlighted the alliance’s stance on the 166 proposals submitted by the National Consensus Commission. He noted that the alliance agrees with 112 proposals, disagrees with 26, and is partially in agreement with 28. Farhad led a delegation of 11 leaders from the alliance in participating in the dialogue.
While discussing elections, Farhad underscored the challenges posed by an unelected government remaining in power for an extended period. Addressing Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, he urged for an election that allows citizens to feel that their voting rights have been reinstated and that they have elected a government of their choice after 15 years.
The dialogue was moderated by Chief Advisor’s Special Assistant, Monir Haidar, and attended by Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, and Dr. Iftekharuzzaman. The National Consensus Commission, established on February 12, 2025, with the approval of Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, aims to reach consensus on governance, constitutional, and electoral proposals submitted by political parties, and provide recommendations to the interim government. The commission has held meetings with political parties since March 20 under the leadership of Prof. Ali Riaz.