If National Consensus Commission fails, we are all responsible: Ali Riaz

The vice chairman of the panel says that political parties will also have to take responsibility for any failure

National Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Ali Riaz says that if the panel fails for any reason following the dialogue with political parties, everyone, including the political parties, will have to take responsibility.

He said, "If we fail somewhere, that failure is ours. If the commission fails, it will be the failure of us all. We have to consider that point. There is no chance for failure. A responsibility has been entrusted to us. That responsibility is on the political parties. We are only partners. We are partners in your efforts, not a separate entity.”

He made the remarks in his opening speech on the 14th day of the second phase of the dialogue with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Tuesday.

The day’s agenda includes discussions on a bicameral parliament, constitutional amendments and women's seats in parliament.

Urging political parties to reflect on the situation of a year ago, Riaz said: "We have been able to reach this point because the people of Bangladesh, all of you, and your activists fought with their lives. Recalling the memory of that position, that situation, there should be no lack of effort in fulfilling the responsibility that rests on us, and you are making that effort. We are all making that effort together."

"Due to a shortage of time, we are not able to achieve the expected progress in the negotiations. But after this week, time pressure will reach such a point that we will actually have to decide on some issues very quickly. I hope that you will take them into consideration. You are aware of the unresolved issues."

He made a request to the political parties, saying: "We all have to come to a place where a national charter is prepared. We all have to come together as much as possible. That is why I hope that each of us will continue to make some changes in our positions. But please, consider the shortage of time so that we can formulate a national charter very quickly by July. We can come to common ground on the fundamental issues through the opinions of all, or most, or as many as possible in this national charter."

Since taking charge, Riaz said that the commission has played the role of a partner to political parties.

"We all have to succeed together. The measure of that success is whether we can agree on structural reform or not. We have already agreed on some things. You have agreed on some other issues at the initial stage of discussions. And some are unresolved. We will discuss these issues."

Stating that decisions will have to be taken on all issues over the next few days, the panel’s vice chairman said: "In taking these decisions, we should each be aware of the responsibility and our accountability. We should remember how we got here, what the expectations of the people involved in this process are and what role each of us has played in fulfilling those expectations."

Monir Haider, special assistant to the chief advisor, and commission members Badiul Alam Majumder, Aiyur Mia, Safar Raj Hossain, and retired justices Emdadul Haque and Iftekharruzzaman also joined the discussions alongside the representatives of political parties.