National Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Professor Ali Riaz today said that the National Charter will be written with modified proposals based on the opinions given by the political parties. 

“The proposals put forth by various commissions during the reform process are not final. The National Charter will be formulated incorporating revised proposals, shaped by the viewpoints of political parties,” he said.

Professor Ali Riaz was speaking at the beginning of the second phase of discussions between the political parties and the National Consensus Commission at the Doel Hall of the Foreign Service Academy here.

He said that all proposals would not receive consensus, and any issue lacking consensus would be excluded from the National Charter.

“We will find agreement on certain points. The remaining issues will be addressed by the political parties in their respective election manifestos. It will be up to the people to decide how much they accept,” he added.

Referring to the time limitation, Ali Riaz noted that the public is eager to understand the activities of the National Consensus Commission and to fulfill that expectation, the second phase of discussions is being broadcast live, allowing citizens to stay informed about the commission’s work.

He expressed the hope that the drafting of the National Charter would be completed by July. He reminded political parties that it is essential to reach at least a minimum level of consensus on the reform proposals.

During today’s meeting between the National Consensus Commission and political parties, in-depth discussions took place on several key issues: the authority of members of parliament to vote against their party in the lower house except on money bills regarding article 70 of the Constitution, the nomination of opposition party members as chairs of parliamentary standing committees, women’s representation in the lower house, and recommendations from the Electoral Reform Commission.

Some 30 political parties participated in the discussion. The parties are Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gonosanghoti Andolon, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Khelafat Majlis, Rastro Sansker Andolon, Nagorik Oikya, Bangladesh Jatiyo Samajtantrik Dal (Bangladesh JSD), Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM), Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Bangladesh Biplobi Workers Party, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, 12-Party Alliance, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Gono Forum, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), Bangladesh Labor Party, Zaker Party, Jatiyo Ganofront, Amjantar Dal, Bhasani Anusari Parishad/Bhasani Janshakti Party, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh and Islamic Oikya Jote.

Commission members Justice Md Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, Safar Raj Hossain, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, and Dr Md Ayub Mia and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haider were present.