During a break in the National Consensus Commission’s discussions on reforms to the reserved women’s seat election system, bicameral parliament, and chief justice appointment laws, BNP’s National Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, National Citizen’s Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam, and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher were seen placing their hands together in a symbolic show of unity.
The moment was captured on Wednesday afternoon during the second day of the commission’s meeting. Later, Salahuddin Ahmed warmly embraced Nahid Islam and asked how he was doing.
Though absent on Tuesday, Jamaat-e-Islami joined the second round of unfinished discussions on Wednesday. The party’s delegation, led by Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, participated in the talks at the Foreign Service Academy on Bailey Road in the capital. Also present were the party’s Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan and Hamidur Rahman Azad. The session was chaired by the Consensus Commission’s Vice Chairman Professor Ali Riaz.
A total of 30 parties, including BNP, Jamaat, and NCP—two of which are alliances—took part in the discussions. Today’s agenda included debates on the National Constitutional Council (NCC), presidential elections, and the proposed District Coordination Council.
The meeting was moderated by the Chief Advisor’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. Other commission members present included Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr Ifthekharuzzaman, and Mohammad Ayub Mia.