Professor Ali Riaz, Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, spoke today at the second round of discussions with political parties at the Doel Hall of the Foreign Service Academy. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, June 19, 2025 (BSS) - National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz today said dialogue between political parties and the commission are taking place in a cordial atmosphere. 

Each party is able to express views freely despite differences of opinion, while there is mutual respect among the political parties in expressing their views, he said.

Professor Ali Riaz made the remark while briefing journalists at the end of the fourth day of the second-round of discussions of political parties with the National Consensus Commission at the Doel Hall of the Foreign Service Academy here. 

Commission members Justice Md Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, Safar Raj Hossain, Dr Iftekharuzzaman and Dr Md Ayub Mia and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haider were present.

Referring to the day's discussion, Professor Ali Riaz stated that all political parties have reached a consensus on reforming the presidential election system.

In addition, most parties have also agreed on the establishment of a bicameral legislature, he said, adding that the parties have expressed their views on 100 seats in the upper house during the discussion. 

He, however, said there is a need to discuss more issues related to these issues.

In response to a question from journalists about the issues on which consensus will not be established, the Vice-Chairman said that the issues on which consensus will not be established with the political parties will be outlined clearly. 

He acknowledged that given the realities on the ground, it would be unrealistic to expect consensus on every issue.

However, there is a willingness between the commission and the political parties to agree on important issues, he observed.

Thirty political parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gonosanghati, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Biplobi Workers Party, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, participated in today's discussions with the National Consensus Commission.