News Flash
DHAKA, June 17, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed today said that they wanted to reach a new destination through reforms.
“We want to reach a new destination through reforms and build our strong democratic Bangladesh. We want to reach a certain point together through discussions so that we can complete the reforms,” he said.
He was briefing newsmen after the second round of discussions of political parties with the National Consensus Commission at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
Asked about whether BNP is satisfied with the discussions that have taken place with the commission so far, he said, "Whether we will be satisfied or not we will inform all after the discussion is completed. However, we want a national consensus to be created and we all come to one point and a national charter can be signed by July."
About the topic of discussion today, the senior BNP leader said that they have reached a decision according to the Article 70 of the Constitution as the outcome of the continued discussion.
“Everyone has agreed on two issues in Article 70. Members of the parliament can vote independently against the party in any matter except two issues --- on the vote of confidence and the money bill---as per the Article 70,” he said.
But, the BNP and some other political parties have also opined to add the constitutional amendment bill with the two issues to the Article 70 against which the MPs cannot vote, he said.
The written proposal mentioned the issue of national security (if there is any issue like a war situation), in which case the members of parliament will not be independent, he said.
The senior BNP leader further said that it has also been decided that the issue of the vote of confidence and the money bill will be mentioned in the national charter and everyone can sign it.
Salahuddin said they have reached more or less a decision about the standing committee of the parliament.
The posts of chairman of several important parliamentary standing committees including Public Accounts, the Privileges, the Estimates and the Public Undertakings , will be given to members of the opposition party on a proportional basis based on the number of seats in parliament, he said.
“Everyone has agreed on this,” he said.
About summary of the discussion on women's seats as per today's agenda, he said that further discussions are being held on this issue, but everyone has given a unanimous opinion on reserving 100 seats for women.
“The method of its election has not been decided yet,” he said.
The second phase discussion of the National Consensus Commission has begun today aimed at finalizing the recommendations of the various reform commissions formed by the Interim Government and preparing the much-discussed 'July Charter'.
The discussion officially began at 11:40 am at the Doel Hall of the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
Vice-President of the National Consensus Commission Prof Ali Riaz, also head of the Constitutional Reform Commission presided over the discussion.
Members of the Commission, Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, head of Public Administration Reform Commission; Safar Raj Hossain, head of Police Reform Commission; Badiul Alam Majumder, head of Election Reform Commission; Justice Emdadul Haque, head of Judiciary Reform Commission; Dr Iftekharuzzaman, head of Anti-Corruption Reform Commission and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haider, were present.
In addition, the meeting was also attended by BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed, BNP Chairperson Advisory Council Member Ismail Zabiullah, Khilafat Majlis Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Abdul Quader, Jatiya Gano Front Central Committee Coordinator Tipu Biswas, Ganosanhati Andolan Central Committee Executive Coordinator Abul Hasan Rubel, AB Party General Secretary Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuaad, National Citizen Party (NCP) Senior Joint Member Secretary Dr Tasnim Jara, Labour Party Chairman Dr. Mustafizur Rahman Iran, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Dr. Redwan Ahmed, Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party (BLDP) Chairman Shahadat Hossain Salim, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD General Secretary Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan, Bangladesh JSD representative Dr. Mushtuq Husain and leaders of various political parties were present.
However, no representative of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami attended the meeting despite being invited.
The agenda of today's discussion meeting includes - Article 70 of the Constitution, nomination of the chairman of the standing committee, women's representation in the legislature, bicameral parliament and the appointment process of the Chief Justice, according to a press release of the National Consensus Commission.
The commission will discuss with various political parties on June 17, 18 and 19. The discussion agenda for June 18 and 19 will be announced later.
