Dr. Ali Riaz, Vice President of the National Consensus Commission, stated that their goal is to create a national charter through dialogue. “Our aim is to establish a permanent democratic system in Bangladesh,” he said. “We have seen democracy stumble repeatedly. Not only that, but a personality-driven autocracy was also established in this country.”

He made these remarks on Thursday around 11 a.m., before the start of a meeting with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at the LD Hall of the National Parliament.

Ali Riaz noted that the BNP has played a significant role in the democratic movement over the years. “The party has raised demands and launched programs for state reform in Bangladesh. Alongside the fight against fascist rule, BNP has also emphasized the need for reform,” he said. “On behalf of the Reform Commission, we want to move forward with our recommendations through discussions with political parties. In response to the proposals we submitted, BNP has sincerely and thoughtfully shared their views. We received their cooperation during the work of the Constitutional Reform Commission, and we express our heartfelt thanks for that.”

The Vice President of the Consensus Commission further said, “We hope that through discussions we can reach a point from which the future institutional and constitutional path of Bangladesh can be charted. There are already areas where BNP agrees and disagrees. Through dialogue, we hope to find common ground. Though we may be seated on opposite sides of the table, we are not adversaries.”

In his opening remarks, Monir Haidar, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, said, “In February, six reform commissions submitted their reports. These reports can be implemented through an official procedure. With the opinions of political parties, non-political groups, and civil society, implementation is possible. That’s why these recommendations were sent to all political parties, including BNP. Based on the feedback from the political parties, this discussion has begun. The Commission is fully prepared to continue these discussions.”

The meeting was attended by five members, including Ali Riaz and the head of the Reform Commission. A five-member delegation from BNP, led by Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, also participated in the meeting.