Prof. Ali Riaz, Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, emphasized on Saturday that the commission is determined to reach a political consensus swiftly, ensuring that the country moves toward a national election without unnecessary delays.
He made these remarks following the first formal meeting of the National Consensus Commission, led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, with all political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
"Today, we officially initiated the commission's work," Riaz said. "Our goal was not just to launch discussions but also to allow political parties to familiarize themselves with one another and share their perspectives."
He clarified that the meeting was not intended to serve as a dialogue but rather to discuss the framework of the commission's process. "In essence, we consider this meeting as an official inauguration. A total of 27 political parties were present today, with more than a hundred representatives from different parties and coalitions participating. Among them, 32 people spoke at the meeting," he added.
As the head of the Constitutional Reform Commission, Riaz stressed that political parties strongly support the idea of national unity and are committed to the reform process.
"They have demonstrated their commitment to the reform process and have expressed their willingness to support, assist, and participate in the initiatives of the National Consensus Commission and the interim government," he said.
He went on to say, "This strong stance taken by political parties substantiates the remarks of Chief Adviser and Commission Head Dr Muhammad Yunus, who has said that every political party, citizen, and section of society has a responsibility to ensure the smooth progress of the reform process."
"With that objective in mind, today's meeting was convened. We are hopeful that the National Consensus Commission's work will now commence. We will engage in separate discussions with political parties, as well as hold talks with alliances collectively. Eventually, we will reconvene everyone. We do not wish to prolong this process unnecessarily and expect to complete it within a short period. Political parties have been requested to submit hard copies of their reform reports, and we will take prompt action in this regard," he added.
About concerns over delays, Riaz asserted that there was no hesitation among political parties in achieving consensus. "We are optimistic that we will be able to advance this process effectively."
When asked about the estimated duration for concluding these discussions, he said, "The commission's tenure is six months. Our objective is to reach a consensus as soon as possible. However, since political parties will require time to review the reports of the six commissions, we aim to expedite the process while ensuring that reforms move forward and consensus is reached in preparation for the elections."
In response to whether this will be accomplished within six months, he said, "We are hopeful that it can be completed in less than the stipulated time. Political parties have expressed interest, but this will not happen abruptly. We have received the reports, and the political parties will review them thoroughly. They must be given ample time. While this will require some time, we are committed to beginning the discussions and negotiations as soon as possible."
