National Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Prof Ali Riaz on Wednesday urged political parties to show flexibility on reform issues for the sake of the country and the nation, in a bid to achieve the desired goal.
“Please consider how we can all move forward, keeping the interests of the state and the nation above everything else. I’ve said time and again that you all have to make compromises on your party positions here,” Riaz said.
He made the call in his introductory speech while presiding over the sixth day of the second-round talks of the National Consensus Commission in the capital.
The discussion began around 11am at the Foreign Service Academy.
Riaz said progress had been achieved in some reform issues, while differences remained on others during the discussion.
“We must remember that we’ve come to the discussion table by stepping over blood. We've come here in exchange for the sacrifice of many lives,” he said.
Noting that the country had not reached this reform stage through a single-day struggle, he said Bangladesh had arrived at this critical juncture after 16 years of continuous effort and a broader 53-year-long fight to establish democracy and an accountable state.
“I have full trust and belief that we will reach our desired goal, the formulation of a national charter,” said Riaz.
Wednesday’s agenda included discussions on the state’s fundamental principles, a bicameral parliament (including the electoral system for the upper house), the formation of a National Constitutional Council, the presidential election system, and women’s representation in parliament.
Leaders from around 30 political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party (NCP), participated in the day’s dialogue to present their respective party positions on the proposed reforms.
The session is being broadcast live by BTV News.
On June 2, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the second round of dialogues.
Formed on February 15, 2025, under the leadership of Yunus, the commission was tasked with forging a unified national stance on crucial state reforms.
The commission launched its first round of dialogues on March 20 to build national consensus on the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government.
It held talks with 33 political parties and alliances, including the BNP, Jamaat, and NCP, before concluding the first round on May 19.
Following the dialogue, the National Consensus Commission will prepare and announce the July Charter, or reform charter, next month.