Our goal is to create a national charter: Ali Riaz

Dr Ali Riaz, Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, has said that their main goal is to create a national charter through discussions.

He explained, “Our aim is to establish a permanent democratic system in Bangladesh. We have seen democracy stumble repeatedly. Not only that, a personality-driven dictatorship had once taken root in this country.”

He made these remarks on Thursday (April 17) around 11:00am at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Complex before starting a meeting with the BNP.

Ali Riaz said that the BNP has played a significant role in the country’s democratic movements over the years. “The party has raised demands and introduced programs for reforming the state structure of Bangladesh. Alongside fighting against authoritarian rule, the BNP has emphasized the need for reforms. As a Reform Commission, we want to move forward with our recommendations through discussions with political parties. The BNP has already responded sincerely and thoughtfully to the proposals we presented. We are grateful for their cooperation during the commission’s work on constitutional reform.”

He further added, “We hope that through these discussions, we can reach a common ground that will help guide the future direction of Bangladesh both institutionally and constitutionally. The BNP agrees with us on some issues and has different opinions on others, but we believe we can find consensus through dialogue. Sitting on opposite sides of the table doesn’t mean we are opponents.”

The meeting was attended by five members of the Reform Commission, led by Dr Ali Riaz. A five-member delegation from the BNP, led by Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan, also took part in the discussion.