National Consensus Commission Vice President Professor Ali Riaz has said Bangladesh must unite to establish an accountable state that never becomes authoritarian, emphasizing that "we do not want to resemble North Korea."
"The system must ensure the protection of citizens' rights. There is unity on this issue, and despite political differences, this unity must be maintained," Ali remarked on Tuesday at the publication ceremony of the book "Bangladesh’s Dream and the Uprising of ‘24” at the National Press Club.
He continued: "Political parties in Bangladesh previously established the caretaker government system based on consensus. Now, there is talk of national unity, which is being formalized as a national charter—a social contract between the state and its citizens. This will ensure the protection of citizens' rights, participation, and government accountability. There is no disagreement among political parties on this issue.
"We must ensure that differences of opinion do not turn into hostility. There is no need for that. We can work together, and history has proven that. We need to identify the common ground for unity and create a charter that will serve as a social contract, guiding the future of Bangladesh. This charter represents the dream of the citizens—they seek security, the right to vote, and a government that cannot act arbitrarily without their consent."
Regarding criticism of the Constitution Reform Commission’s recommendation for "citizenship democracy," Ali commented: "The conventional term is ‘republic.’ The constitutional reform commission proposed replacing ‘republic’ with ‘citizenship democracy.’ Some people objected to this, which is understandable. But it is better not to be subjects (of a ruler). The term ‘subjects’ implies a feudal relationship with a master."
He elaborated: "In a democratic society, political parties will naturally have differences. If we want a democratic society but expect complete agreement on everything, we might as well live in North Korea. But we do not want to become North Korea. For the past 16 years, efforts have been made to establish a democratic system despite struggles and conflicts. Differences of opinion and dissent must be met with tolerance."