Staff Reporter :
Despite ongoing talks, no consensus has been reached among political parties regarding key constitutional reforms, particularly concerning women’s representation in the national parliament and the election mechanism for the proposed upper house.
Ali Riaz, Vice-Chair of the National Consensus Commission, confirmed that discussions would continue as critical issues remain unresolved.
Speaking to reporters on Monday after the 13th day of the commission’s second-phase dialogue at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Riaz acknowledged that while there was broad support for a bicameral parliament to better reflect the country’s social diversity,
political parties have yet to agree on how the upper house should be structured.
“There is agreement on the necessity of a bicameral parliament, but political parties are still divided on the specifics of how the upper house should be constituted,” Riaz stated, adding: “The commission has proposed two models, and several alternative suggestions have been discussed, but more deliberation is needed to reach a final decision.”
On the issue of women’s representation in parliament, Riaz reported that there was general agreement on the need for permanent reservation of 100 seats for women. However, the method for filling these seats remains a contentious issue.
The existing proportional allocation system for 50 reserved seats is being considered for expansion to 100, but some parties are pushing for direct elections to fill the seats, an option that remains divisive.
“The commission has introduced a third proposal,” Riaz said. “This proposal suggests amending Article 65 of the Constitution to guarantee women’s representation by requiring any political party contesting in more than 25 constituencies to nominate at least one-third women candidates.”
Riaz further mentioned that additional proposals were discussed during the ongoing deliberations, signaling that the commission is working hard to develop a solution that enjoys broader political consensus.
Although progress is being made, the continued divergence on key points means that the political parties will have to engage in more dialogue to hammer out a solution. The commission is optimistic that further discussions will lead to a more widely acceptable proposal for both the upper house and women’s representation.
The establishment of a bicameral parliament and the enhancement of women’s representation in the national legislature are key issues in Bangladesh’s political reform agenda. These proposed changes are expected to have a significant impact on the country’s governance structure, with debates continuing on the balance between proportionality, regional representation, and gender equality.
As discussions continue, political parties remain under pressure to find common ground that will ensure the reforms benefit a diverse and inclusive society. The National Consensus Commission has signaled that it will push forward with further talks in the coming days to resolve these issues and reach a final consensus.
