The National Consensus Commission on Monday said that reforms in various sectors would depend on the outcomes of dialogues with political parties and citizens regarding the recommendations made by six reform commissions.
The commission vice-chairman Professor Ali Riaz made the comment while addressing a press conference at the Jatiya Sangsad auditorium in Dhaka.
鈥榃e will not remain rigid with our recommendations for reforms,鈥� he said.
Professor Riaz, who worked as the chief of the Constitution Reform Commission, said that at least 34 political parties had already been provided with a 166-point questionnaire outlining key recommendations from reform commissions for constitution, electoral process, judiciary, public administration, and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The political parties were requested to submit their responses by 13 March.
On February 12, the interim government formed the NCC led by chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to adopt the recommendations through consensus among the political parties.
鈥楶olitical parties may partially agree or disagree with some recommendations. We will hold a series of dialogues with them to reach a consensus,鈥� Professor Riaz said.
Cherishing a consensus-based draft of the 鈥楴ational Charter鈥� by 15 July, Professor Riaz said that the NCC would begin the dialogues immediately after receiving feedback from the political parties.
The questionnaire sent to political parties requires them to place a 鈥榯ick mark鈥� to indicate whether they agree, partially agree, or disagree with 166 specific recommendations.
It also seeks their views on whether the proposed reforms should be implemented through ordinance or referendum before the national election.
Alternatively, it seeks opinions on carrying out reforms through a referendum during the election, a constituent assembly, post-election constitutional amendments, or through elected assembly and parliament members.
Political parties were also invited to share their perspectives beyond merely responding to the multiple-choice questionnaire, said Riaz, a distinguished professor at the politics and government department of Illinois State University in the United States.
鈥楾o determine the dialogue agenda for consensus, we will take into account the importance of feedback from political parties, even if the issue is not marked by the majority,鈥� he said.
Regarding queries about a 鈥榗onstituent assembly鈥�, a 90-day interim government, or a four-month caretaker government, he said that dialogues with political parties would decide the name and function of a transitional government.
Drawing on historical precedent, Professor Riaz referred to how India鈥檚 constituent assembly functioned as the country鈥檚 first parliament following independence in 1947.
He said that the post-2024 uprising Bangladesh might consider adopting a similar approach.
To ensure public involvement in shaping key recommendations, the NCC would launch a website shortly to collect citizens鈥� feedback, he added.
The commission members Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, Badiul Alam Majumder, Justice Emdadul Hoque, Safar Raj Hossain and Iftekharuzzaman and chief adviser鈥檚 special assistant Monir Haidar were also present.