Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission Professor Dr Ali Riaz warned of the stakes ahead, saying, ‘If the Commission fails, everyone fails — we cannot afford to fail.’
He made these remarks on Tuesday morning at the beginning of the 14th day of the second phase of dialogues with political parties, held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
“We can reach a common ground through agreement on fundamental issues,” Ali Riaz said, adding, “The Commission is not a separate entity. If it fails, so does everyone else. We don’t have the luxury of failure.”
He further stated, “The responsibilities entrusted to us also rest on the political parties – we are merely partners in that responsibility. The Commission has become a partner in your effort, not an independent body.”
Calling for positional flexibility due to time constraints, he noted, “Progress is not being made as expected in proportion to the time. We must make prompt decisions on unresolved matters and move collectively toward drafting the National Charter.”
Ali Riaz emphasised, “Over the next few days, we must reach consensus on structural matters. Political parties need to feel the weight of their duty and responsibility in line with public expectations.”
Today’s discussion topics include a bicameral parliament, constitutional amendments, and women’s representation in Parliament.
The discussion was moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haidar. Also in attendance were Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, and Dr Ayub Miah.
Leaders from several political parties, including BNP, Jamaat, and NCP, also participated in the meeting.
