The National Consensus Commission on Monday held its second round of discussions with representatives from 28 political parties, aiming to build agreement on key reforms across state institutions.
Most participating parties supported holding the next general election by December. The BNP reiterated its demand that elections be held within that timeframe, with all urgent reforms-except constitutional amendments-completed within a month.
Jamaat-e-Islami proposed that the polls be scheduled between December and April, while the National Citizen Party (NCP) insisted that no election date should be announced before the finalization and implementation of the "July Charter."
These remarks came following a high-level meeting between political leaders and the National Consensus Commission, chaired by Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
Yunus: July Charter Should Be a National Document
Presiding over the session, Dr Yunus said the meeting aimed to expand areas of agreement already established in the first round of dialogue. "We've achieved consensus on many vital issues," he said. "Now we must bridge the remaining gaps and incorporate these points into a well-structured and meaningful July Charter-a truly national document."
Stressing unity, he added, "Our politics should not be based on division, but on consensus that ensures national advancement and collective welfare."
This second round is part of the commission's broader effort to foster consensus on critical electoral and governance reforms before the upcoming national election.
BNP: No Reason to Delay Polls Beyond December
Following the meeting, BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters, "There is no valid reason to delay elections beyond December. Almost every party has suggested elections before year-end. Necessary reforms can be agreed upon and executed within a month."
He emphasized impartiality, stating, "We urge the Chief Adviser to act as a neutral figure and restructure the Advisory Council to reflect that neutrality. The interim government has already lost valuable time-we believe everything can still be finalized within this month."
Salahuddin noted, "While we may not agree on everything-such is the nature of democracy-we believe we're close to consensus on most key issues."
He concluded, "We want reforms that promote a democratic, accountable state structure with meaningful checks and balances, in line with the aspirations of our martyrs and the public."
Jamaat: Election Under Chief Adviser's Supervision
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said two major issues were discussed: reforms and the election timeline. "We trust the Chief Adviser and want elections to be held under his leadership," he said.
He added, "Announcing a polling window between December and April would reduce public anxiety. We want all reforms to be completed by July, after which the July Charter should be signed by all parties."
NCP: Finalize July Charter First
National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam said his party firmly believes the election date should be declared only after the July Charter is finalized.
Speaking to the press, he said, "We raised three points. First, we asked for an update on the government's promise to release the July Charter within 30 working days. They missed a previous deadline in January. We hope this one isn't missed."
"Second, July marks one year since the popular uprising. By August 5, the July Charter should be signed by all parties. Third, announcing an election date beforehand could undermine the reform process."
He added, "After nearly 17 years of political stagnation, waiting two more months for the Charter is not unreasonable.
