National Consensus Commission to start work on Saturday, term to last 6 months

The Yunus-led commission will work to bring the political parties to a consensus on the recommendations made by six reform panels

A seven-strong National Consensus Commission has been formed with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus as its chairman.

Constitution Reform Commission head Ali Riaz has been made vice-chairman of the committee.

A notification in this regard, signed by Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid, was issued on Wednesday.

The commission members include Public Administration Reform Commission chief Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, Police Reform Commission chief Safar Raj Hossain, Electoral System Reform Commission chief Badiul Alam Majumdar, Judiciary Reform Commission chief Md Emdadul Haque, and Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Commission chief Iftekharuzzaman.

According to the notification, the commission will hold discussions with political parties and forces to form a national consensus and review the recommendations made by the panels established to reform the electoral system, police, judiciary, public administration, constitution and anti-corruption watchdog ahead of the next parliamentary election.

The six-month term of the commission will start from Feb 15. The Chief Advisor’s Office will provide secretarial assistance to the commission.

Chief Advisor's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam had previously said the commission would talk to political parties and members of the country’s civil society about the completed reports of the six reform commissions.

“The extent of the reforms that will be carried out soon and what can be done later will be decided through the talks between political parties and the commission. The government will formulate the July Charter based on the consensus.”