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Published : 28 Jul 2025, 01:39 PM
The BNP has walked out of the latest round of dialogue with the National Consensus Commission after refusing to take part in discussions on proposed reforms to major constitutional bodies, including the Public Service Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
On Monday, the consensus panel's Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz introduced the topic during the second phase of talks with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy.
BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed objected, saying that the party would not participate in the discussion.
Later, Riaz said: “The BNP has said they will remain absent from the discussion. If a political party doesn't participate in the discussion, I can't decide whether the discussion should proceed or not.”
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince noted that it would not be possible to reach a consensus if a major party did not participate in the discusion.
In response, dialogue moderator Monir Haidar said: “Previously, one or more parties gave notes of dissent, and still a consensus was reached.”
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Salahuddin said: “We have walked out of the second phase of the talks.”
“We have made it clear that we will not participate in discussions on the constitutional and statutory bodies, including provisions for appointing members of the Public Service Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, comptroller and auditor general, and the ombudsman.”
Asked whether the party would possibly rejoin the dialogue, he said: “We’ve said we won’t join discussions on these particular issues. But we will rejoin the dialogue to present our views in detail.”
FIRE ALARM PAUSES TALKS
The day's talk came to a sudden pause as a fire alarm rang out at Dhaka’s Foreign Service Academy.
The discussion was proceeding at the Shapla Hall of the main building when the alarm suddenly rang out at 12:15pm. The political leaders who were taking part in the discussions grew worried and the talks were suspended soon afterwards by the panel’s Vice Chairman Riaz. The leaders of the political parties then left the building.
At 12:20pm, Riaz said: “A fire alarm rang out here, that is why we had to step out for some time. After that, everyone left the conference room.”
According to a few employees at the Foreign Service Academy, it seems that some one may have been smoking on the third floor of the building, setting off the fire alarm.
The fire alarm stopped ringing at 12:25pm.
The discussions had yet to restart as of the filing of this report. Employees at the Foreign Service Academy were attempting to determine the cause of the alarm.
CPB General Secretary Ruhin told bdnews24.com, “All of us came downstairs after the fire alarm rang. Let’s see what will happen now.”
