The National Consensus Commission (NCC) has reached agreement with political parties on 19 key areas of state reform, though five issues remain unresolved, drawing formal notes of dissent following the final round of the commission’s 23-day second-phase talks on Thursday.

 NCC Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz said the remaining disagreements would be addressed through continued dialogue. “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 Thursdat after the 23rd day of the second phase of the commission’s discussions with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
 
Members of the commission Justice Md. Emdadul Haque, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Dr. Badiul Alam Majumder, Safar Raj Hossain, Dr. Md. Ayub Mia and Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Manir Haidar were present during the press briefing.

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.

Riaz praised the political parties for demonstrating “sincerity and political will” in pursuing the reform agenda outlined in the July Charter.

“Discussions have been held on implementation pathways, and the parties have requested the commission to remain engaged,” he said.

Commission members present at the post-dialogue briefing included Justice Md Emdadul Haque, Iftekharuzzaman, Badiul Alam Majumdar, Safar Raj Hossain, Md Ayub Mia, and the Chief Advisor’s Special Assistant Monir Haidar.

Consensus reached on 14 issues:

• Reform of Article 70 of the Constitution

• Oversight of parliamentary standing committees

• Demarcation of electoral boundaries

• Presidential clemency powers

• Decentralisation of higher judiciary

• Relocation of lower courts to Upazilas in phases

• Authority to declare emergency

• Appointment of chief justice

• Process for forming Election Commission

• Restriction on prime minister holding multiple portfolios

• Term limit for prime minister (maximum 10 years)

• Creation of independent Police Commission

• Women’s representation in parliament

• Formation of an upper house of parliament

Dissent noted on five contentious issues:

• Appointment process of Public Service Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, auditor general, and ombudsman

• Presidential powers and responsibilities (Article 48.3), electoral college and election procedure

• Expansion of citizens’ fundamental rights

• Redefinition of state principles

• Appointment method of caretaker government's chief advisor

Riaz added that the commission would soon hold a press conference to present the next steps and a proposed roadmap for enacting the agreed reforms.

“As a facilitator, we will continue to play a coordinating role wherever necessary to support and advance the process,” he said.

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.