Consensus Commission Engages in Talks with Political Parties

The National Consensus Commission is holding talks with the country's political parties again today after a three-day break with the aim of reaching consensus on the recommendations of the reform commissions, formed by the interim government, and formulating the 'July Charter'. The meeting officially began at 10:30 am at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital for the eleventh day at the second phase. According to commission sources, important issues like the caretaker government, appointment of the Chief Justice and declaration of state emergency are the main agendas of today's discussion. Presided over by Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz, the meeting was attended by Commission members Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, Dr Md Ayub Mia, Dr Iftekharuzzaman and Safar Raj Hossain and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haider.

Representatives of 30 political parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gana Sanghati, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Biplobi Workers Party, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, are participating in today's discussion. Earlier, in successive meetings, the commission discussed various issues with the political parties, including the term of the Prime Minister, the presidential election system, the principles of state governance and the formation of an independent committee to demark the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies. The programme is being broadcast live on Bangladesh Television.