Consensus Commission to Advise Government by Integrating Opinions of Political Parties and Experts: Ali Riaz

National Consensus Commission Vice-President Professor Ali Riaz has said that the commission will submit its recommendations to the government within the next one or two days, based on consolidated inputs from five meetings held with political parties and experts on implementing the July National Charter 2025.

He noted that political parties and alliances have urged the commission to integrate their perspectives and expert opinions into the decision-making process, and to provide the government with clear, actionable guidance.

Riaz added that all participants involved in the consultative process will be formally informed once the recommendations are submitted.

He made these remarks in his concluding speech on Wednesday at the Foreign Service Academy following a discussion between the National Consensus Commission and political parties on implementing the July National Charter, according to a press release issued today.

Among others, Commission Members Justice Md Emdadul Haque, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr Md Aiyub Mia, and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on the consensus-building process Monir Haidar were present.

Professor Riaz said several political parties proposed holding a referendum through a separate ballot on the same day as the national parliamentary election, while others suggested holding the referendum prior to the election.

He added that the commission believes there is a de facto consensus among political parties to empower the 13th Parliament to make fundamental structural amendments to the Constitution within a defined timeframe in order to implement the July National Charter 2025.

The commission’s vice-president also mentioned that experts have unanimously provided five key recommendations for implementing the Charter.

These include issuing an order for the implementation of the July National Charter 2025, holding a referendum through that order, and placing separate questions in the referendum to reflect both consensus and dissenting views.

Through the upcoming elections, the Constitutional Reform Council and the 13th National Parliament will be formed. Subject to the referendum’s approval within the timeframe specified in the Council Order, the constitutional reforms outlined in the July National Charter will be incorporated into the Constitution.

In addition to the July National Charter’s signing, the commission will release a comprehensive report by October 18–19, Riaz said.

Describing the defeat of fascism through national unity as the nation’s greatest achievement, he stressed that this unity must be preserved, as there is no alternative to it.

Representatives from 30 political parties—including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gonosanghati Andolon, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Biplobi Workers Party, and Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, among others—participated in the discussion with the commission.