Consensus Commission kicks off reform talks with parties
Staff Reporter :
The National Consensus Commission has initiated discussions with political parties as part of its efforts to reconstitute the state and ensure a free, fair, and credible election scheduled for the end of the year.
On Thursday, the commission held its first round of talks with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at the LD Hall of the National Parliament Building.
The discussion, which began at 3:00 PM, saw LDP chief Oli Ahmed presenting the party’s stance on the reform proposals.
Out of the 166-question spreadsheet sent by the commission to political parties, the LDP expressed agreement with 120 questions, disagreement with 42, partial agreement with 2, and found 2 to be unclear.
Oli Ahmed specifically criticized the recommendations concerning the Election Commission, calling them the weakest among all proposals.
He argued that the commission should have reviewed previous dialogues with political parties to formulate stronger recommendations.
“No matter what you do, you will not be able to ensure a fair election unless two key officials perform their duties properly-one is the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the police, and the other is the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO),” he asserted.
Leading the discussion on behalf of the National Consensus Commission was its vice president, Professor Ali Riaz.
Other commission members present included Safar Raj Hossain, Emdadul Haque, Iftikharuzzaman, and Monir Haider, the special assistant to the chief advisor.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has formally submitted its opinions on the key reform proposals drafted by five different commissions.
In its submission, the party strongly advocated for elections to be held under a proportional representation system.
Speaking to reporters after submitting the party’s response to the commission, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar emphasized that the party had thoroughly reviewed the reform commission’s recommendations under the leadership of party ameer Shafiqur Rahman.
Jamaat’s submission highlighted several measures to ensure neutrality in elections, with a particular focus on proportional representation.
The party also expressed agreement on the idea of a bicameral parliament but outlined specific conditions regarding its structure and implementation.
Professor Ali Riaz reiterated that the commission is operating independently and is not under any external pressure.
He also confirmed that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to submit its opinion on the proposed reforms within the next two to three days.
When asked about discussions with the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), Riaz stated that no meetings with the party are planned in the immediate future.
However, if the NCP submits its opinions, they will be reviewed during post-Eid discussions alongside other political parties.
Additionally, BNP’s Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury confirmed on Thursday that the party will submit its opinions on the major recommendations by five reform commissions to the National Consensus Commission on Sunday.
Speaking at a press briefing at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, Khasru emphasized that further details will be disclosed after the official submission.
Addressing questions about the upcoming national election, he remarked, “The general expectation now is that the election will be held in December – there seems to be no other option.”
“Many feel that December is already a delayed date, but it has been accepted as the cutoff time. If the election is held within that timeframe, we will be on the right path,” Khasru added.
He further stated, “We have struggled for 15 to 16 years to restore the people’s rightful ownership of the state, and elections are the only way to achieve that. December is seen as the deadline to meet public expectations.”
Khasru also pointed out the necessity of an elected government for smoother international engagement. “It will be easier for everyone to work with an elected government, as international partners prefer engaging with a legitimate, elected administration,” he said.
As the reform discussions progress, the National Consensus Commission is expected to hold further talks with political parties after Eid-ul-Fitr to shape the path for the upcoming general elections.