The National Consensus Commission will commence its second phase of political dialogues on Tuesday, with discussions continuing through June 19 at the Doel Hall of Dhaka’s Foreign Service Academy, aiming to finalise recommendations for the upcoming July Charter.
Key agenda items for the talks include constitutional reforms regarding Article 70, procedures for nominating Standing Committee chairpersons, enhancing women’s parliamentary representation, establishing a bicameral legislature (comprising Lower and Upper Houses), and streamlining the Chief Justice appointment process.
According to a Sunday press release, the opening session at 10:30am will involve 30 political parties under the chairmanship of Commission Vice Chairman Ali Riaz. BTV will provide live coverage of the proceedings.
While the Commission has slated further meetings for June 18-19, the specific agendas for these dates remain undisclosed. Following each session, Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Ali Riaz will first conduct formal media briefings, after which political party representatives will address journalists. This second phase follows the initial dialogue held on June 3 between the Commission and participating political parties.
The second round commenced on June 2 under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s leadership, with substantive discussions held on June 3 involving nearly 30 political parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party (NCP).
Established on February 15, 2025, by the interim government, the Commission completed its first dialogue phase on March 20, engaging 33 political parties and alliances. Under the leadership of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, the Commission was tasked with shaping a unified national stance on critical reforms.