2nd round of consensus talks: Most parties for specific polls date

Most of the political parties that met Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday demanded a specific date for the next general election.

The BNP, seven other parties, and an alliance said the election must be in December or earlier.

Yunus inaugurated the second round of talks between political parties and the National Consensus Commission at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital yesterday. Twenty-eight parties and two alliances attended the discussions.

The Jamaat opined that the next election can take place anytime between this December and April next year while the National Citizen Party demanded that the election date be announced after the July Proclamation is adopted.

Most political parties said a specific date for the election could reduce confusion among the people and reduce the distance between political parties and the government.

According to video footage provided by the Chief Adviser's Press Wing, the 12-Party Alliance, Biplobi Workers Party, Bangladesh Jashod, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bhashani Anushari Parishad, National Democratic Movement, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal and Aam Janatar Dal demanded election by December.

The Jatiya Gono Front demanded that the election be held between December and February.

Prof Yunus said the aim of the discussions was to minimise differences over reform proposals and build on the consensus reached earlier.

He also said a "beautiful July Charter" would be unveiled after the discussions.

The National Consensus Commission will hold another meeting with political parties today.

"We have already reached consensus on many issues," said Yunus, also chair of the consensus commission.

The commission was formed to review and finalise reform proposals.

The first round of talks was held with 33 political parties, between February 15 and May 19.

"The remaining differences from the first round can be narrowed so that we can include more points of agreement in our July Charter. The charter will truly be a national document," Yunus said at the meeting yesterday.

The second phase of talks comes as part of the Consensus Commission's effort to bring political parties together on key questions of electoral and governance reforms.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said there was no reason for the national election to be delayed beyond December.

There is no reform that cannot be done within a month, he said. "We believe that it is possible to hold the national election within December. We must first identify the urgent reforms needed, especially those related to elections, and implement them through consensus."

If there is agreement, all amendments, except for constitutional ones, can be implemented within a month through executive orders and even circulars, he said.

"Therefore, there is no valid reason for the elections to be delayed beyond December."

Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher said that if the chief adviser announced a suitable timeframe between December and April, political parties would focus on their election preparations.

"From December to April, if you set a date at a suitable time, we believe concerns and unease among the public will be alleviated. Political parties will focus on their election preparations, and there will be no possibility of any transitional uncertainty," he said.

Regarding the elections, he further said, "We have requested other parties not to be too rigid about a particular date."

NCP Convener Nahid Islam said announcing the election date before the implementation of the July proclamation would not be appropriate.

He said that if the election date is announced before the July proclamation is out, the reforms would be disrupted.

"The July proclamation will outline the framework for governing Bangladesh in the future and fundamental reforms to the governance system. Once the proclamation is finalised, we will provide our party's opinion on when we want the election," he said.

Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki demanded a roadmap to reforms, the election and trial for the July atrocities.

Several political parties including Communist Party of Bangladesh, Socialist Party of Bangladesh, Biplobi Workers Party, urged the government to not allow a humanitarian corridor to provide aid to the people in Rakhine State and hand over the operations of the Chattogram port to a foreign organisation.

Consensus Commission Vice President Prof Ali Riaz said that from now on the consensus commission will hold joint meetings with all political parties.

He said that the commission will hold a discussion on recommendations on Article 70 of the constitution, women's representation and parliamentary standing committee.