National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz said decisions were taken on a total of 19 issues based on discussions and consensus in the second phase of the meeting with the political parties.
“Some of these issues were accepted along with notes of dissent from some parties. All the issues on which consensus or decisions were taken will be included in the July National Charter,” he told a press briefing after the 23rd day of the second phase of the commission’s discussions with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy here.
According to the briefing, the issues that have been decided, including note of dissent, are, amendment of Article 70 of the Constitution, women’s representation, decentralization of the judiciary and decentralization of the Supreme Court, holding multiple positions of the Prime Minister, adding provisions for the appointment of the Public Service Commission, ACC, C&AG and Ombudsman to the Constitution, formation of the Upper House, election method of the President, powers and responsibilities of the President, caretaker government and fundamental principles of the state policy.
Ali Riaz said the most note of dissent came on the issue of increasing the number of seats for women.
Representatives of 30 political parties including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP), Gano Odhikar Parishad, Gana Sanghati Andolon, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Biplobi Workers Party, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party participated in today’s talks.
On June 2, Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus officially inaugurated the second phase of talks.
A total of 23 sessions of talks were held with 30 parties and alliances from June 3 to July 31.
