Prof Ali Riaz calls for joint proposal beyond party lines

The National Consensus Commission will pursue alternative plans to implement the July Charter if political parties fail to reach a consensus, said Vice-President Prof. Ali Riaz during the fourth day of discussions at the Foreign Service Academy.

“If the parties cannot agree, the commission will put forward multiple proposals,” he stated.

Representatives from 30 political parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and National Citizen Party, attended the meeting. However, Prof. Riaz noted that some parties have yet to submit the names of their representatives to sign the charter and urged them to do so promptly.

Describing the commission’s role as a catalyst in the process, Riaz said, “We have developed several proposals with input from expert committees and your feedback.”

He recalled that on September 17, six proposals were previously submitted by parties, with hopes to select a common one to present to the interim government.

Since no final proposal has been agreed upon, the commission is now preparing alternative options. “We cannot dictate how the interim government should implement the charter but can recommend either a consensus or various possible approaches,” he explained.

Riaz also informed that the commission had met with Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna, where he urged them to advance swiftly and create a political document acceptable to all.

“Our goal is to complete this process before October 15,” Riaz emphasized, cautioning that the effort should not hamper the upcoming election preparations.

He concluded, “Signing the charter is only the beginning. We must collaborate to bring structural reforms that citizens expect.”