Bangladesh requires a permanent democratic system, and the National Charter aims to lay its foundation, according to Professor Ali Riaz, vice-chair of the National Consensus Commission.
He made the remarks while delivering the opening statement at a dialogue between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the National Consensus Commission, held at the National Parliament complex at 11am on 17 April.
“Our objective is to frame a National Charter to ensure a lasting democratic structure in the country,” said Ali Riaz.
Commenting on the state of democracy in Bangladesh, he stated, “We have witnessed not mere stumbles, but the repeated rise of personality-driven autocracy. Our collective efforts—led prominently by the BNP—have been to resist such regimes. This initiative seeks to institutionalise that struggle and prevent such setbacks in the future.”
BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan noted that the mass uprising in July created a democratic momentum which must be seized. “We now have another opportunity before us, and we intend to use it wisely. We are extending cooperation to this commission—and, in doing so, to this government—with that very hope.”
Khan further argued that no political party in Bangladesh has carried out more reform than the BNP. “We conveyed to the Chief Adviser on Wednesday that BNP is not opposed to reform; BNP is the party of reform.”
Referring to the charter proposed by the Commission, he said, “Even if this National Consensus Charter doesn’t materialise, the BNP’s 31-point reform agenda already stands as a charter for change. What matters is that everything must be rooted in the people. Public consent must be the foundation of all decisions.”
The dialogue was moderated by Monir Hayder, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser. Other members of the Commission present included Soffor Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Badiul Alam Majumdar, and Dr Iftekharuzzaman.
BNP delegation was led by Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, with other members including Nazrul Islam Khan, Chairperson’s Advisers Ismail Zabihullah and Ruhul Quddus Kajol, and Moniruzzaman Khan.
