Latest news with #NationalConsensusCommission
Herald Malaysia
3 days ago
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
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' 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 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
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bangladesh launches fresh reform bid
Bangladesh's caretaker government launched a fresh bid on Monday to seek agreement between rival political parties on critical democratic reforms after a mass uprising last year. The South Asian nation of around 170 million people has been in political turmoil since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted by a student-led revolt in August 2024, ending her iron-fisted rule of 15 years. The National Consensus Commission is headed by Muhammad Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who is leading the caretaker government as its chief adviser until elections are held. "Let's not miss this opportunity", Yunus said in a speech at the opening as a second round of meetings began. "The remaining differences can be narrowed". Last month the consensus commission said political parties had failed to reach agreement. Yunus has previously said he inherited a "completely broken down" system of public administration, and said it required a comprehensive overhaul to prevent a future return to authoritarian rule. He set up six commissions to do that work, overseen by the consensus commission, which he heads. On May 26, Ali Riaz, the commission's vice president, said that despite marathon efforts -- stretching over 45 sessions with 38 political parties and alliances -- they had not reached a deal in the first round. Several political parties, especially the powerful Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have demanded an election date be set. Salahuddin Ahmed, a senior BNP leader, last week said there was growing impatience at the pace of progress made by the reform commission. "How many times do they want to stage the drama of reforms?" he said. "A first launch, followed by a second... This is nothing but dancing with bananas". Contentious issues include whether a prime minister can serve more than two terms, and the process for selecting the president. Hasina's rule saw widespread human rights abuses, and her government was accused of politicising courts and the civil service, as well as staging lopsided elections to dismantle democratic checks. Yunus has said polls could be held as early as December but that holding them later -- with the deadline of June 2026 -- would give the government more time for reform. sa/pjm/mtp
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Majority of Parties in Bangladesh Push for December Elections at National Consensus Commission Meet
Last Updated: During the meeting, most parties reportedly expressed their preference for holding general elections within December 2025. More than 20 political parties in Bangladesh have expressed their view that the national election should be held in December, and that the entire election process must be completed by early next year. According to sources in Dhaka, this was the dominant sentiment at Monday's National Consensus Commission meeting convened by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. Professor Yunus officially launched the second round of talks with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. The key agenda items included discussions on the proclamation of the July Revolution, government reforms, and the timeline for the upcoming election. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, BNP leader Salauddin Ahmed said, 'Reform is essential, but it should not take more than a month. Most parties present today have called for elections by December. We hope the interim government will consider all aspects and take a decision accordingly." Sources in Dhaka also confirmed that Jamaat-e-Islami echoed similar views, emphasizing the need for early elections. Jamaat is also reportedly planning to raise objections over the inclusion of a Buddhist temple image on the national currency notes. From the Communist Party of Bangladesh to the BNP, almost all major political parties—except the NCP—agreed that elections should be held following key reforms. The meeting will continue on Tuesday, with all eyes now on when the official election date will be announced. The political landscape remains tense, and the nation waits eagerly for further developments. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: June 02, 2025, 20:51 IST
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Bangladesh launches fresh reform bid
DHAKA: Bangladesh's caretaker government launched a fresh bid on Monday to seek agreement between rival political parties on critical democratic reforms after a mass uprising last year. The South Asian nation of around 170 million people has been in political turmoil since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted by a student-led revolt in August 2024, ending her iron-fisted rule of 15 years. The National Consensus Commission is headed by Muhammad Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner who is leading the caretaker government as its chief adviser until elections are held. 'Let's not miss this opportunity', Yunus said in a speech at the opening as a second round of meetings began. 'The remaining differences can be narrowed'. Bangladesh top court restores Jamaat-e-Islami Last month the consensus commission said political parties had failed to reach agreement. Yunus has previously said he inherited a 'completely broken down' system of public administration, and said it required a comprehensive overhaul to prevent a future return to authoritarian rule. He set up six commissions to do that work, overseen by the consensus commission, which he heads. On May 26, Ali Riaz, the commission's vice president, said that despite marathon efforts – stretching over 45 sessions with 38 political parties and alliances – they had not reached a deal in the first round. Several political parties, especially the powerful Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have demanded an election date be set. Salahuddin Ahmed, a senior BNP leader, last week said there was growing impatience at the pace of progress made by the reform commission. 'How many times do they want to stage the drama of reforms?' he said. 'A first launch, followed by a second… This is nothing but dancing with bananas'. Contentious issues include whether a prime minister can serve more than two terms, and the process for selecting the president. Hasina's rule saw widespread human rights abuses, and her government was accused of politicising courts and the civil service, as well as staging lopsided elections to dismantle democratic checks. Yunus has said polls could be held as early as December but that holding them later – with the deadline of June 2026 – would give the government more time for reform.
India Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Bangladesh polls, political reforms can run together: Consensus panel vice-chief
Ali Riaz, a leading political analyst and academic, now serves as vice-chairman of the National Consensus Commission in post-Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh. The body is tasked with forging broad-based political agreement under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim a wide-ranging interview with INDIA TODAY, Riaz reflects on the commission's ongoing negotiations with 33 political parties, highlighting that while consensus has been reached on several key reforms, entrenched resistance—particularly from the larger parties—remains a significant obstacle on 12 major contends that the path to reform need not be linear. Contrary to the prevailing binary, he asserts that the processes of democratic reform and preparations for general elections can proceed in You were entrusted with two of the most critical responsibilities in post-uprising Bangladesh. While the task of the Constitutional Reform Commission has been completed, you now serve as vice-chairman of the National Consensus Commission. Where do things stand currently?A. Leading the National Consensus Commission is, without doubt, a significantly more complex undertaking (laughs). Nonetheless, we are already midway through the process. Between March 20 and May 19, we held meetings with all 33 registered political parties across 45 sessions. Some of these engagements extended beyond a single day. For instance, our dialogue with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) continued for three consecutive days. We also engaged with the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party over two days have managed to reach full agreement on several issues, while partial consensus has been achieved on others. On some matters, no agreement could be reached at all, and certain proposals were rejected Q. Could you categorise these issues for us?A. To begin with, there is unanimous agreement in principle that Bangladesh should adopt a bicameral system of government and that general elections must be conducted under a caretaker government. However, the specifics, such as structure, size and composition—remain under deliberation. A key issue under debate is the method by which members of the Upper House will be elected, as well as the procedure for forming the caretaker is consensus on the need to establish the post of a deputy speaker, with the agreement that it should be held by a member of the Opposition. Similarly, all parties support the idea that major parliamentary standing committees should be chaired by Opposition has been conclusively agreed that the chief justice of the Supreme Court should be appointed based on seniority. However, whether the appointment should be automatic for the seniormost judge or selected from a panel of three remains a matter of of bribery within the private sector has been agreed upon. The debate lies in determining the extent of state power in enforcing such legislation. All parties concurred that a comprehensive election commission law is essential. Partial agreement exists on reserving 100 seats for women in the Lower House, as well as on revising Article 70 of the Constitution, which currently enforces draconian disciplinary measures against parliamentarians who cross the floor or vote according to existing Article 70 is excessively rigid; it allows for penal action even if a member is simply absent during a vote. Presently, there is general agreement that floor-crossing will continue to be prohibited for finance bills, no-confidence motions and constitutional amendments. The debate is now about relaxing its application beyond those such as establishing a public attorney service to prevent governments from appointing politically affiliated individuals as additional attorneys general have found partial support. The same holds true for the expansion of civil rights, though the legal enforceability of such rights remains contentious.Q. Which of the issues are completely deadlocked?A. One of the principal points of contention is the imposition of a term limit on the office of the prime minister. Our commission proposed a two-term cap for any individual. While many parties were amenable to this, one party in particular has raised objections.Q. Is that party the BNP?A. Indeed, it is. Their proposal is that after serving two consecutive terms, an individual should be allowed to return for a third term following a break of one full term—provided they are re-elected. Further disagreements persist regarding the structure and mandate of the caretaker government. Also, we proposed that the president of the country should be elected by the Upper House and that local government figures, such as chairs and vice-chairs of city corporations and district councils, should be granted voting rights in the process. These proposals remain under debate. Another area of contention is whether constitutional amendments should require a public You mentioned that some proposals were 'thrown out'.A. We had proposed federalising the structure of government by dividing Bangladesh into four provinces. This met with strong Opposition from most political parties. Similarly, our proposal to decentralise the judiciary by establishing high courts in each of the country's seven divisions was rejected. At present, the sole high court is located in Dhaka. We believed that multiple high courts would expedite the delivery of justice. Opponents argued that the Constitution already empowers the chief justice to establish temporary benches in other regions as needed. Our counter-argument is that this currently depends entirely on the discretion of an individual, rather than on the systemic needs of the Would you say it is the larger parties that tend to offer the greatest resistance?A. Yes, the larger parties are generally more resistant to several ideas. Their rationale is that they are reluctant to commit to proposals they may not be able to adhere to in future, as this would open them up to public scrutiny and criticism. Their stakes are significantly present, there are 12 major issues that remain under active debate. Nevertheless, I am optimistic. Once the second round of discussions commences, likely in the first week of June, there will be greater flexibility from all parties, regardless of size or ideology. Every party we met acknowledged the need for reform. Not a single one was categorically opposed. While the degree of commitment may vary, there is a common understanding that the existing governmental structure has the potential to evolve into autocracy if left unaltered.Q. What are your thoughts on elections—arguably the most contentious issue in Bangladesh at present?A. There are currently three distinct perspectives on this matter. One group believes that substantial reforms must be enacted before any elections are held. Another believes elections should take place first, with the understanding that parties will be bound to implement reforms thereafter, especially since reforms are seen as the moral foundation of the July 2024 uprising. A third perspective echoes the first but demands more extensive reforms before the Commission's point of view, we believe reforms and elections need not be treated as mutually exclusive or sequential processes. They can and should proceed in parallel. Preparations for elections can take place simultaneously with the reform process.Q. Bangladesh army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman's remarks on elections have sparked controversy. Do you believe such statements undermine the work of the Commission?A. I do not think so. Moreover, I do not see the military and the government as entirely distinct entities—the army is, after all, part of the state apparatus. The army chief expressed his views, and his statement should be regarded as one of many opinions.Q. There has been resistance to your proposal to formally declare Bangladesh a 'pluralist' state in the revised Constitution.A. The resistance came from several parties. Their concern was that the term 'pluralism' might be perceived as contradictory to the monotheistic philosophy of Islam, thereby conveying an incorrect message to the broader public. After extensive deliberation, we proposed the following wording for inclusion in the Constitution: 'Bangladesh ekti bohutyavaadi, bohu-jaati, bohu-dhormee, bohu-bhashee o bohu-sangskritir desh jekhane sokol somprodaayer sohabosthaan o jothartho morjada nischit kora hobe.' (Bangladesh is a pluralist, multi-community, multi-religious, multi-lingual and multi-cultural country, where the coexistence and appropriate dignity of all communities will be ensured.)Q. Finally, by when do you expect the work of the National Consensus Commission to be completed?A. We began on February 15 and were given a deadline of six months (August 15). However, I am determined to complete our mandate by July. This will allow us to commemorate the first anniversary of the July uprising by presenting the nation with a new national charter—one that outlines a visionary and inclusive path is vital that the people of Bangladesh are made aware of the issues on which we achieved consensus and those that remain unresolved. This transparency will enable the public to hold future governments accountable. Should these parties genuinely desire reform, they will have the opportunity to pursue it themselves. And if not, the people will compel them—either through elections or by other democratic to India Today Magazine
