Ali Riaz, Vice-Chair of the National Consensus Commission, on Sunday urged political parties to show greater flexibility and a willingness to compromise in order to ease the finalisation of the upcoming July Charter.
“This dialogue has provided political parties with an opportunity to come closer. We have seen progress,” said Riaz while inaugurating Sunday’s session between political leaders and the Commission at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
He continued, “From the positions where each party has begun, some level of concession will be necessary. In making these concessions, please consult your respective policymakers.” Riaz acknowledged that several key issues remain unresolved in the ongoing discussions.
“Among the matters still under debate are the formation of an upper house of parliament, enhanced women’s representation, and the creation of a National Constitutional Council,” he noted.
He also shared that over the weekend, multiple political parties had reached out to the Commission and vice versa expressing a willingness to consult their leadership regarding these issues. “The Commission believes internal consultations are essential. For this reason, we’ve decided to defer further discussion on these specific topics and will reconvene in two days,” Riaz added.
Sunday’s session was intended to focus on several major topics, including the tenure of the Prime Minister, the foundational principles of the Constitution, and the delimitation of electoral constituencies. Calling for empathy and realism, Riaz urged parties to reflect on the broader context.
“Consider the situation that brought us here — 16 years of political conflict, the sacrifice of nearly a thousand lives, and countless cases of enforced disappearances. Many of the missing are your own activists, your sons. It is only because of their sacrifice that we are able to sit here together today,” he said.
“In light of this, we must reflect on where compromise is possible and how far each side is willing to go. I urge you to approach that space for consensus. Only then will the July Charter become easier to finalise,” he added.
Also present at the meeting were Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, Chair of the Public Administration Reform Commission; Safar Raj Hossain, Chief of the Police Reform Commission; Badiul Alam Majumdar, Head of the Electoral Reform Commission; Justice Emdadul Haque, Chair of the Judicial Reform Commission; and Iftekharuzzaman, Chief of the Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Committee.