Special Correspondent :
Political parties in Bangladesh have reached a conditional consensus on appointing the senior-most judge of the Appellate Division as the next Chief Justice, according to Ali Riaz, Vice Chair of the National Consensus Commission.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday after a high-level dialogue at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Riaz said the agreement marks a significant step toward judicial reform and political cooperation.
“All parties have agreed in principle that the senior-most judge of the Appellate Division should be appointed as the Chief
Justice,” Riaz stated. However, he added that flexibility remains within the consensus.
“If a political party includes in its election manifesto a proposal to choose from among the two most senior judges, it may move to amend the constitution after assuming office.”
Riaz also made it clear that integrity will be a key criterion in the appointment process. “No individual facing allegations of misconduct will be eligible for the position of Chief Justice,” he said.
The consensus emerged from ongoing dialogues facilitated by the National Consensus Commission, which was established to foster multi-party cooperation on key national issues.
Addressing the much-anticipated ‘July Charter’, Riaz noted that drafting is expected to begin before the month ends. “The way discussions are progressing, we expect to begin drafting the charter by the end of July,” he said.
The ‘July Charter’ aims to outline a framework for inclusive governance, electoral reform, and institutional accountability – a development closely watched by both domestic and international observers.
