NN Online:
National Consensus Commission Vice Chair Prof Ali Riaz on Tuesday urged political parties to show flexibility and resolve the remaining reform issues promptly to finalise the National Charter within July.
“We must reach consensus on the National Charter as soon as possible,” said Prof Riaz while presiding over the 14th session of the ongoing second-round dialogue at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. “There’s no alternative to working together. Each party needs to adjust its position, even slightly, keeping in mind the time constraint.”
He noted that while agreement has been reached on some matters, several key issues remain unsettled. “We’ll continue discussions to resolve them. If we fail, it won’t just be a failure of the Commission—it will be a collective failure,” he warned.
Prof Riaz stressed that the responsibility lies with both the Commission and all participating political parties. “We are only partners in your efforts,” he said, reiterating the need for urgent resolution of pending issues in the coming days.
Tuesday’s dialogue focused on critical constitutional reforms, including the proposed formation of an Upper House in a bicameral parliament and reserved seats for women.
Around 30 political parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and NCP, took part in the discussions to outline their positions on the reform proposals. The Consensus Commission aims to conclude the dialogue and finalise the National Charter by July 31 after reviewing nearly 20 major constitutional reform topics.
