Thursday, 10 July, 2025
Speaking after the meeting at the InterContinental Dhaka on Saturday afternoon, he remarked, "Honestly, I didn’t quite understand what this roundtable was about."
While confirming that discussions on reforms took place, he noted that the UN chief did not make any comments on the matter.
Among the attendees were BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, Jamaat-e-Islami Vice-President Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, NCP Convenor Nahid Islam, and AB Party General Secretary Asaduzzaman Fuad.
Additionally, key reform commission heads were present, including Ali Riaz (Constitutional Reform Commission), Iftekharuzzaman (Anti-Corruption Reform Commission), Badiul Alam Majumdar (Electoral Reform Commission), Safar Raj Hossain (Police Reform Commission), and Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury (Public Administration Reform Commission).
Fakhrul stated, "The roundtable was convened by the UN, with participation from political party leaders and reform commission heads. The UN Secretary-General was briefed on the reforms underway."
He added, "Law Advisor Asif Nazrul provided an explanation, while we reiterated our longstanding stance that reforms must be implemented as soon as possible, particularly electoral reforms."
When asked if a timeline for the reforms was discussed, he responded, "There was no need to talk about a specific timeframe. This remains an internal matter for us."
NCP Convenor Nahid emphasized the importance of foundational reforms, urging all political parties to reach a consensus under the July Charter.
"The groundwork for essential reforms must be laid within the current administration," he said. "We have called for the swift implementation of the July Charter to fulfill our commitment to ongoing reforms."
According to Nahid, the heads of the reform commissions presented summaries of their recommendations, while political leaders shared their positions.
Addressing constitutional changes, Nahid stated, "There was no opportunity for in-depth discussion. However, we agreed that reforms must be carried out through a Constituent Assembly, as history has shown that parliamentary amendments alone are not sustainable."
He suggested that the next national election should include both parliamentary and Constituent Assembly elections to ensure lasting reforms.
On the topic of elections, Nahid remarked, "Reforms and elections are interconnected. Without meaningful reforms, elections will be ineffective."
"All political parties agree on the necessity of reforms, but differences remain regarding the timing—how much should be done before the election and how much after," he said.
"If the reforms are implemented under the July Charter, these differences can be resolved, paving the way for a consensus," he concluded.
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Speaking after the meeting at the InterContinental Dhaka on Saturday afternoon, he remarked, "Honestly, I didn’t quite understand what this roundtable was about."
While confirming that discussions on reforms took place, he noted that the UN chief did not make any comments on the matter.
Among the attendees were BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, Jamaat-e-Islami Vice-President Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, NCP Convenor Nahid Islam, and AB Party General Secretary Asaduzzaman Fuad.
Additionally, key reform commission heads were present, including Ali Riaz (Constitutional Reform Commission), Iftekharuzzaman (Anti-Corruption Reform Commission), Badiul Alam Majumdar (Electoral Reform Commission), Safar Raj Hossain (Police Reform Commission), and Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury (Public Administration Reform Commission).
Fakhrul stated, "The roundtable was convened by the UN, with participation from political party leaders and reform commission heads. The UN Secretary-General was briefed on the reforms underway."
He added, "Law Advisor Asif Nazrul provided an explanation, while we reiterated our longstanding stance that reforms must be implemented as soon as possible, particularly electoral reforms."
When asked if a timeline for the reforms was discussed, he responded, "There was no need to talk about a specific timeframe. This remains an internal matter for us."
NCP Convenor Nahid emphasized the importance of foundational reforms, urging all political parties to reach a consensus under the July Charter.
"The groundwork for essential reforms must be laid within the current administration," he said. "We have called for the swift implementation of the July Charter to fulfill our commitment to ongoing reforms."
According to Nahid, the heads of the reform commissions presented summaries of their recommendations, while political leaders shared their positions.
Addressing constitutional changes, Nahid stated, "There was no opportunity for in-depth discussion. However, we agreed that reforms must be carried out through a Constituent Assembly, as history has shown that parliamentary amendments alone are not sustainable."
He suggested that the next national election should include both parliamentary and Constituent Assembly elections to ensure lasting reforms.
On the topic of elections, Nahid remarked, "Reforms and elections are interconnected. Without meaningful reforms, elections will be ineffective."
"All political parties agree on the necessity of reforms, but differences remain regarding the timing—how much should be done before the election and how much after," he said.
"If the reforms are implemented under the July Charter, these differences can be resolved, paving the way for a consensus," he concluded.
Comments
