United News of Bangladesh

Ganasamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki on Sunday stressed the need for fixing a specific timeframe for the next national election. “If the election is to be held after December, the reasons must be explained,” he said after a dialogue with the National Consensus Commission. Referring to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus’ announcement that the election will be held between December this year and June next year, Saki said, “Other advisers also said they will not go beyond this timeline. We think the timeframe should be more specific and finalised through discussion.” The discussion was held with National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. A 10-member delegation of Ganasamhati Andolon, Zonayed Saki, participated in the discussion at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Ganosamhati Andolon joins talks with Consensus Commission The Ganasamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator hoped that the government would sit with the stakeholders to fix the time for the election. “If the polls are deferred beyond December, the rationale must be clarified,” he said. About Constitutional reform, he said the Constitution cannot be changed without people's mandate or without a Parliament. But, administrative matters (reforms) beyond the Constitution can be changed through executive orders by the interim government and validated by the next government, he added. On Article 70 of the Constitution that doesn't allow an MP to vote in Parliament against his or her party , Saki said, “We have proposed reforming it in a way so that MPs can vote freely on all matters except the votes of confidence and budget bills. This will help balance power and enhance Parliamentarian’s role as a true representative of the people.” Speaking on the balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister, Ganasamhati Andolon Executive Coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel said, “Now the President cannot act apparently without the permission from the Prime Minister. “We want to change it by giving the President the authority for specific appointments and certain tasks,” he said. He also demanded a structural balance among the three branches of the state—executive, legislature, and judiciary—within the Constitution. Ganasamhati Andolon agreed with 138 out of 166 reform proposals of the National Consensus Commission. The party partially agreed with 13 others and disagreed with the 11 proposals and did not make any comment over four reform proposals. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. On March 20 last, the Consensus Commission opened a series of talks with political parties to forge a national consensus on state reform initiatives. The commission has already held talks with 17 political parties, including BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP). Formed on February 15, 2025, under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Commission was tasked with shaping a unified national stance on critical reforms.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD on Sunday feared that the past fascism is likely to return, if the next election is held without necessary reforms to the existing system. “If we move towards a new regime (through an election) on the existing system without restructuring it, there will be a possibility of the old order (fascism) returning,” JSD general secretary Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan said during a dialogue with the National Consensus Commission here. An eight-member JSD delegation, led by Swapan, took part in the talks held at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad complex in the afternoon. National Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Prof Ali Riaz presided over the session. Swapan said it is not possible to build a new Bangladesh on the foundation of the existing political arrangement, stressing that structural reforms in the governance system are essential. He said a past fascist regime had used this very system to establish authoritarian rule—killing people, depriving them of their rights, looting public wealth, setting up Aynaghar (secret prisons), and destroying all state institutions. “The state’s structure now stands at its lowest point,” he said. BNP leader Khasru, 4 others acquitted in case under Special  Powers Act   Welcoming the initiative to formulate a national charter, he said, “The steps taken to prepare the National Charter will serve as a historic document for the present and generations.” “Whatever consensus we reach now can be implemented. But the future generation will also be able to use the charter as a guide to rebuild the state,” he added. He underscored the need for preparing the national charter based on a minimum consensus among all political parties. JSD agreed with 119 out of 166 reform proposals of the National Consensus Commission. The party partially agreed with 27 others and disagreed with the 17 proposals. Besides, JSD made no comment over the remaining three proposals. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. The JSD delegation members included its senior vice president Tania Rob, vice presidents Siraj Miah, Sanowar Hossain Talukder, KM Kabir and Towhid Hossain and joint general secretary Kamal Uddin Patwary. On March 20 last, the Consensus Commission opened a series of talks with political parties to forge a national consensus on state reform initiatives. Ganosamhati Andolon joins talks with Consensus Commission The commission has already held talks with 18 political parties, including BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP). Formed on February 15, 2025, under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Commission was tasked with shaping a unified national stance on critical reforms.

Ganasamhati Andolon joined talks with the National Consensus Commission on Sunday morning. The discussion began at 10:15 am with National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. A 10-member delegation of Ganasamhati Andolon, led by its Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki, participated in the discussion at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. On March 20 last, the Consensus Commission opened a series of talks with political parties to forge a national consensus on state reform initiatives. Jamaat joins talks with Consensus Commission The commission has already held talks with 17 political parties, including BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP). Formed on February 15, 2025, under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Commission was tasked with shaping a unified national stance on critical reforms.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami wants a bicameral parliament in Bangladesh with five-year tenure, said its Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher on Saturday. “We've agreed on the bicameral parliament issue” he said at a press briefing during the lunch break of talks with the National Consensus Commission at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Complex. He said there were proposals to reduce Parliament and Presidential tenures to four years from five years. “But we told them that it wouldn’t be right. The tenures should be of five years,” said Taher. A 10-member Jamaat delegation, led Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, participated in the discussion that began at 10:30am with Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. Jamaat to fully support constructive, realistic reforms: Taher Jamaat delegation members included its Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar, assistant secretaries general Rafiqul Islam Khan, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad and Ehsanul Mahbub Jubair, publicity and media affairs secretary Matiur Rahman Akand, Jamaat Dhaka South City unit Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul and Shishir Monir. On March 20 last, the National Consensus Commission opened its dialogues with political parties aiming to build a national consensus on the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. The commission has already held talks with 16 political parties, including BNP and National Citizen Party (NCP). The commission formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus aims to establish a unified stance on critical reforms.

Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission Prof Ali Riaz on Thursday blamed the erosion of democratic values for the rise of a fascist regime, urging unified efforts to restore true democracy.  “We witnessed the lack of democracy in the governance structure of Bangladesh for the past 53 years and the weakness of the institutions. This is why the fascist regime was established. So, the desire of political parties, civil society, students and people is to establish a democratic state,” he said. Prof Riaz said this while delivering his introductory speech at the talks with the Aam Janata Party held at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Complex. He said now all aspire to establish a democratic state to prevent the recurrence of tragic experiences of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and repression. About the goal of the National Consensus Commission, its vice-chairman said they are working to create a national charter through discussions with everyone, which will be acceptable to all. “On the basis of it (national charter), the future roadmap of Bangladesh can be built," he said. Prof Ali Riaz said the National Consensus Commission is acting as a catalyst in everyone's efforts to build a roadmap for Bangladesh. Contractual appointments at top levels of administration raise concerns An 11-member delegation of the Aam Janata Party led by its president Moshiuzzaman and general secretary Tarique Rahman attended the dialogue at 10:30am with Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Monir Haider. Out of the 166 major recommendation points compiled by the Consensus Commission, the Aam Janata Party agreed on 138 recommendations, partially agreed on 15 ones and disagreed on the remaining 12 recommendation points. On March 20 last, the National Consensus Commission opened its dialogues with political parties aiming to build a national consensus on the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. The commission has already held talks with 14 political parties, including BNP and National Citizen Party (NCP). The commission formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus aims to establish a unified stance on critical reforms.

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday said his party is extending sincere cooperation to the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. “We are cooperating with the reform initiatives with transparency, sincerity and seriousness in all matters,” he said ahead of the second day of talks between the BNP and the National Consensus Commission at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Complex. A five-member BNP delegation, led by Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan, joined the talks that began at 11:00am with National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. BNP joins 2nd day talks with Consensus Commission The BNP delegation also included Chairperson’s Advisory Council Member Ismail Jabiullah, former secretary Abu Mohammad Moniruzzaman and former Supreme Court Bar Association General Secretary Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajol. Earlier on Thursday, the BNP participated in the opening round of discussions held from 10:35am to 4:45pm. The National Consensus Commission launched its dialogue process with political parties on March 20, aiming to build a unified position on key reform proposals initiated by the interim government. So far, it has held talks with 13 political parties. Dr Yunus to succeed in bringing positive changes, hopes Fakhrul Formed on February 15, 2025, under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Commission is tasked with shaping a shared national stance on critical reforms.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) joined the second day dialogue with the National Consensus Commission on Sunday morning. The Commission is holding a series of talks with political parties to forge a national consensus on state reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. A five-member BNP, led by its Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan, participated in the talks at 11:00am at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The discussion is going on with National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, BNP Chairperson’s Advisory Council member Ismail Jabiullah, former secretary Abu Mohammad Moniruzzaman and former Supreme Court Bar Association general secretary Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajol are the other members of the BNP delegation. No need for movement against interim government: BNP’s Nazrul Earlier on Thursday, BNP attended the first day talks held from 10:35am to 4:45pm with a lunch break at the same venue. The National Consensus Commission began its dialogue process with political parties on March 20, aiming to build a shared position on key reform proposals initiated by the interim government. So far, it has held talks with 13 political parties. Formed on February 15, 2025, under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, the Commission is tasked with shaping a unified national stance on critical reforms. In its initial phase, it compiled key recommendations from five reform commissions — addressing constitutional, public administration, electoral, judicial, and anti-corruption reforms — and shared them with 39 political parties for feedback. BNP in talks for constitutional reform consensus: Salahuddin To date, 34 parties have responded. The Commission aims to complete its first round of talks with political parties by the first week of May, begin a second round in the second week of May, and reach a national consensus by mid-July.

Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission Prof Ali Riaz on Saturday said everyone needs to work together to build a new Bangladesh so that the fascism and repressive systems canno return to Bangladesh. "Now our task is to work together to build a new Bangladesh, so that fascist rule does not return to Bangladesh, Bangladesh's democratic institutions take a permanent shape and the  rights of people are established. And so that we can eliminate disappearances, killings, extrajudicial killings and all forms of oppression,” he said. Prof Riaz said this while delivering his speech at the talks wiith the National Citizen Party (NCP) held at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Complex. An eight-member NCP delegation led by its Convener Nahid Islam attended the dialogue at 10:30am with Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. The National Consensus Commission arranged the talks as part of a series of dialogues with political parties to reach a national consensus over the state reform initiatives taken by the interim government. Prof Riaz said the aspirations for democracy were repeatedly been undermined in Bangladesh. “We have witnessed how the victories achieved through democratic struggles have been trampled in various ways and how the state was brought under the control of one person and a system of governance was established,” he said. NCP delegation led by Nahid joins talks with Consensus Commission Noting that if necessary, discussions with political parties will continue, he said, "We want to prepare a national charter that reflects the aspirations of the nation," he said. Praising the NCP leaders for spearheading the July mass uprising, Prof Riaz said they fought fearlessly against prolonged fascist rule, risking your lives. Their comrades even sacrificed their lives to defeat a fascist regime, he said. “We are grateful to you. The nation will remember you as part of history. You have created a bright chapter in history,” said the Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission. Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar and Dr Iftekharuzzaman were present at the discussion moderated by Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Monir Haider. On March 20 last, the National Consensus Commission opened its dialogues with political parties aiming to build a national consensus on the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. The commission has already held talks with 12 political parties. The commission formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus aims to establish a unified stance on critical reforms. NCP urges sweeping state reform to prevent slide into autocracy Since its inception on February 15, 2025, the commission has been working to finalise recommendations for the state reform proposals. In the initial phase, key recommendations from five reform commissions — covering constitutional, public administration, electoral system, judiciary, and anti-corruption reforms — were compiled and shared with 39 political parties for their feedback. To date, 34 parties have responded. The National Consensus Commission is working to build national consensus over reform initiatives by mid-July next, by completing the first round of talks with political parties by the first week of May next and entering the second round of talks in the second week of May.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Saturday called for a radical overhaul of the state structure through comprehensive reforms, aiming to fulfil the aspirations of the July mass uprising and prevent the re-emergence of fascism or autocratic tendencies in future governments. “By reform, we mean fundamental reform and the reforms which will bring a radical change and a qualitative change in the structure of the state,” said NCP Convener Nahid Islam. He made the remarks at his opening speech at the talks with the National Consensus Commission at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Complex. An eight-member NCP delegation led by Nahid Islam attended the dialogue at 10:30am with Vice Chairman of the Consensus Commission Prof Ali Riaz in the chair. The National Consensus Commission arranged the talks as part of a series of dialogues with political parties to reach a national consensus over the state reform initiatives taken by the interim government. Nahid Islam said different state institutions, including the Constitution, were politicised in the past. The seed of one person-centric structure was sown in the Constitution, he said. “As a result, no matter who comes to power, no matter who is given the responsibility of running the state, if the state structure is kept unchanged, there will be a tendency among them to become fascist and autocratic,” he said. The NCP Convener said the July mass uprising did not happen not just for the change of an individual.  “There was no plan to remove one party from power and install another. Rather, there was an aspiration in  the July Mass Uprising to establish a democratic state system that would protect the rights of people through fundamental and qualitative reforms of the state structure by bringing qualitative changes to the state,” he said. NCP delegation led by Nahid joins talks with Consensus Commission He said the aspirations that led people to take to the streets in the past, including the 1990 mass uprising, have failed. “That failure led to the creation of a fascist regime that lasted for 16 years,” he added. Noting that the aspirations of the July Mass Uprising should no way be failed, Nahid said, “We must fulfill the desire that has been created among the people - this is commitment of all of us to the nation,” he said. In the case of fundamental reforms of the State, the National Citizen Party, are giving special importance to the issues like the constitution, the Prime Minister, the judicial system and the electoral system, he added. “We all have to make that commitment before the nation to ensure another autocratic system, fascism will not come to Bangladesh and we will move forward by closing all its paths. And we will work from our respective places to create a democratic constitution, a democratic state structure,” said the NCP chief. Peace won't return to Myanmar keeping Rohingya issue unresolved: Dhaka tells Washington Earlier, on March 24, NCP submitted its written opinions over the reform recommendations to the National Consensus Commission. Out of the 166 reform recommendations made by the Consensus Commission, the NCP agreed to 113 recommendations and agreed partially to 29 others. On March 20 last, the National Consensus Commission opened its dialogues with political parties aiming to build a national consensus on the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. The commission has already held talks with 12 political parties. The commission formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus aims to establish a unified stance on critical reforms. Since its inception on February 15, 2025, the commission has been working to finalise recommendations for the state reform proposals. In the initial phase, key recommendations from five reform commissions — covering constitutional, public administration, electoral system, judiciary, and anti-corruption reforms — were compiled and shared with 39 political parties for their feedback. To date, 34 parties have responded. The National Consensus Commission is working to build national consensus over reform initiatives by mid-July next, by completing the first round of talks with political parties by the first week of May next and entering the second round of talks in the second week of May.

The National Consensus Commission is set to hold talks with the National Citizen Party (NCP) on Saturday morning as part of the series of dialogues with political parties to reach a national consensus over the state reform initiatives taken by the interim government. The discussion will start at 10:30am at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the capital, said Public Relation Officer of the Consensus Commission Paban Chowdhury on Friday. Earlier on March 24, NCP submitted its written opinions over the reform recommendations to the National Consensus Commission. Out of the 166 reform recommendations made by the Consensus Commission, the NCP agreed to 113 recommendations and agreed partially to 29 others. On March 20 last, the National Consensus Commission opened its dialogues with political parties aiming to build a national consensus on the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government. The commission has already held talks with 12 political parties. The National Consensus Commission, formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, aims to establish a unified stance on critical reforms. Since its inception on February 15, 2025, the commission has been working to finalise recommendations for the state reform proposals. Rizvi questions reforms over elections, suspects ‘hidden agenda’ In the initial phase, key recommendations from five reform commissions — covering constitutional, public administration, electoral system, judiciary, and anti-corruption reforms — were compiled and shared with 39 political parties for their feedback. To date, 34 parties have responded. The National Consensus Commission is working to build national consensus over reform initiatives by mid-July next, by completing the first round of talks with political parties by the first week of May next and entering the second round of talks in the second week of May.