Staff Reporter :
The Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission (NCC), Professor Ali Riaz, voiced optimism yesterday that the proposed National Charter would pave the way for long-anticipated reforms of the state and reflect the aspirations of the Bangladeshi people.
His remarks came during the opening of a formal dialogue between the NCC and the National Democratic Movement (NDM-Bangladesh) held at the LD Hall of the National Parliament Building. A press release issued by the NCC confirmed the development.
“We may sit on opposite sides of the table in discussions with political parties, but we are not opposite to one another,” said Professor Riaz. “We are on the same side with a common goal – to find a clear path toward state reform and to create a national charter.”
The NCC, which has been tasked with guiding the country through an ambitious process of structural reforms, has been holding dialogues with political parties and civic stakeholders to develop the National Charter – a guiding document intended to address deep-rooted issues in governance, justice, and electoral accountability.
Acknowledging differences in strategy among various stakeholders, Professor Riaz emphasized dialogue and unity. “We can move forward and reinforce the unity based on the aspects that enabled us to defeat a fascist regime,” he said, suggesting that the shared history of political struggle could be a foundation for consensus.
Among those present at the meeting were NCC members Safar Raj Hossain, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, and Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor Monir Haider.
The eight-member delegation from NDM-Bangladesh was led by its founder and chairman Bobby Hajjaj. The delegation also included Secretary General Mominul Amin, Vice-Chairman Faruk Uz Zaman Chowdhury, Joint Secretary General Syed Jahangir Alam, and Organizing Secretary Barrister Shahidul Azam.
The meeting comes at a time when the NCC is intensifying its consultations. A total of five reform commissions – focusing on constitutional, public administration, electoral, judiciary, and anti-corruption reforms – have already submitted their recommendations. These proposals have been circulated among 39 registered political parties in spreadsheet format, with a request for specific feedback.
According to the NCC, responses have been received from 34 parties so far, and discussions have been held with nine of them.
The next round of political dialogue is scheduled for April 17, when the Commission is expected to sit with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of the country’s major political forces. The outcome of that meeting could significantly shape the direction and scope of the final version of the National Charter.
