The National Consensus Commission is working toward reaching a logical and inclusive outcome by July 30, in honor of the martyrs of last year’s July-August Mass Uprising, said its Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz on Sunday.
He made the comments at the start of the 12th day of the second phase of discussions with political parties, held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
The ongoing dialogue is focused on generating political unity around key state reforms, building consensus on recommendations of various interim reform commissions, and finalizing a comprehensive July Chaters’s meeting was attended by commission members Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr Md Ayub Mia, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Safar Raj Hossain, and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haider.
According to commission sources, Sunday’s agenda focused on the structure of a caretaker government, the appointment process for the chief justice, and the declaration of a state of emergency—three unresolved issues from earlier sessions.
Prof Riaz, in his opening statement, acknowledged that political parties would naturally hold specific views on reform proposals. However, he urged them to adopt a centrist approach in the spirit of compromise.
“You can revise your position later if you gain public mandate,” he said. “But right now, the commission believes consensus is the best path forward.”
He added that the commission is taking the opinions of political leaders seriously and hopes to reach a conclusion that reflects collective agreement.
“You must be prepared to move forward, even if it requires some flexibility. Otherwise, we risk staying stuck where we’ve always been,” Riaz warned.
Representatives from 30 political parties joined the day’s session.
In previous meetings, the commission held discussions on key constitutional matters, such as the tenure of the prime minister, the presidential election model, principles of state governance, and the establishment of independent bodies to redraw parliamentary constituencies.