Bangladesh political parties fail to agree on key reforms
Bangladesh's National Consensus Commission announced on May 26 that political parties have failed to reach an agreement on key democratic reforms. Jun 06, 2025
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus
DHAKA: Bangladesh's National Consensus Commission announced on May 26 that political parties have failed to reach an agreement on key democratic reforms. The commission, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and formed by the caretaker government after the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, has been working to overhaul what Yunus described as a 'completely broken down' system.Despite 45 sessions with 38 parties, commission vice president Ali Riaz said no consensus was reached on major constitutional issues, including term limits for the prime minister, the process of selecting the president, and the structure of the interim government. A controversial proposal to replace 'secularism' with 'pluralism' in the constitution also sparked division, though most parties supported stronger minority protections.To move forward, the commission will launch a public survey of 46,000 households to gauge public opinion, while a second round of talks is planned. Yunus, who has called for deep reforms to prevent a return to authoritarianism, has indicated elections could be held as early as December or by mid-2026.
Tensions have risen over the election timeline, with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) pushing for a December vote. The military has backed this timeline, with a spokesman denying any rift with the caretaker government and affirming its cooperation for national stability. --LiCAS News
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