Chief advisor calls on political parties to agree on reforms

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus Calls for Political Consensus on Reform Implementation

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has urged political parties to reach an agreement on implementing the proposals put forward by six reform commissions.

"The six reform commissions have made their best efforts in providing recommendations to build a new Bangladesh. Now, our task is to determine how and to what extent we will accept and implement them," he stated.

He made these remarks during his opening speech at the first meeting of the National Consensus Commission with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon.

“Today's discussion will be practical rather than theoretical, focusing on the reform proposals,” Dr. Yunus emphasized.

He stressed that if this opportunity to build a new Bangladesh is properly utilized, future generations will remember their contributions.

"It is the responsibility of political parties to determine the structure of society and how these reforms will be implemented," he added.

Reflecting on the transitional period of the interim government, he noted that while the first phase had concluded, the second phase had begun with the commencement of discussions to establish a well-structured, disciplined Bangladesh, free from autocratic rule.

Honoring the martyrs, injured individuals, and fighters of the July uprising, the Chief Adviser acknowledged that the opportunity to build a new Bangladesh had arrived. He called upon students, the general public, and all concerned to work together to ensure that their sacrifices were not in vain.

"Those who sacrificed their lives entrusted us with the duty of formulating new laws to shape a better Bangladesh," he stated.

He further noted that the past six months had strengthened the nation’s resilience, with people from all walks of life fully supporting the interim government.

"If this unity is preserved, no force will be able to hinder the progress of building a new Bangladesh," he observed.

Dr. Yunus also cautioned against the return of those previously rejected by the people, urging everyone to remain vigilant.

A BNP delegation, led by its Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, is participating in the meeting alongside representatives from other political parties.

On Thursday, the interim government formed the seven-member National Consensus Commission, headed by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, to engage in discussions with political parties on the recommendations of the six commissions. The goal is to achieve consensus on various political, constitutional, and electoral reform agendas.

The commission includes:

• Prof. Ali Riaz (Head of the Constitutional Reform Commission)
• Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury (Head of the Public Administration Reform Commission)
• Safar Raj Hossain (Head of the Police Reform Commission)
• Badiul Alam Majumder (Head of the Election Reform Commission)
• Justice Emdadul Haque (Head of the Judiciary Reform Commission)
• Dr. Iftekharuzzaman (Head of the Anti-Corruption Reform Commission)

The National Consensus Commission has been given a six-month timeframe to complete its consensus-building tasks, with the Chief Adviser’s Office (CAO) providing secretarial support.