Political parties must guarantee reform commitments in parliament: Ali Riaz

Ali Riaz, vice-chair of the National Consensus Commission, has called on the BNP and several other political parties to provide firm guarantees that reform proposals will be implemented through the next elected parliament.

Speaking on bdnews24.com’s talk show Inside Out, the former head of the Constitutional Reform Commission expressed concern over growing public scepticism surrounding the reform process and warned of potential risks if confidence is not restored.

Riaz pointed out that most past amendments in Bangladesh were later struck down, and stressed the need for binding commitments. “Whether it’s one issue or fifty, political parties must offer clear, mandatory guarantees.”

He described the upcoming reform charter as a contract between the political parties and the people. “This commitment is essential,” said Riaz. “It must be treated as a binding contract between political parties and the people.

“If that contract is broken,” he said, “the people will respond.”

REFORMS SHOULDN’T BE TIED TO ELECTION TIMELINES

Riaz cautioned against creating a false dependency between reforms and elections.

“Some reforms are election-related, yes—but we must not delay elections in the name of reform, nor insist that reforms be completed before any election can be held. These processes don’t have to be so tightly entangled.”

He also noted that while some parties have insisted only an elected parliament should carry out constitutional reforms, others, such as the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP), have proposed electing a new Constituent Assembly altogether.

Recently, the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) also weighed in, suggesting that reforms should be drafted now but adopted later by an elected government. It argued that the constitution should not be amended by an unelected body.

Riaz responded by urging all political parties to give assurances, now, that they will adopt and act on agreed reforms through the next parliament.

CONSENSUS, NOT COURT ORDERS

He stressed that the path forward lies not in legal enforcement, but in political accountability.

“This isn’t about going to court if a party breaks the agreement. This is about political ethics. If a party breaks trust, the people will hold them accountable.”

Riaz warned that Bangladesh has a history of constitutional amendments later being struck down by courts, and said this must not be repeated.

“To avoid that, we must build mechanisms that ensure long-term legitimacy—grounded in political consensus, not just legal authority.”

While some groups advocate for a Constituent Assembly, Riaz clarified that he is not supporting that proposal at this time.

REFORM COMMISSION TALKS IN FINAL STAGE

The National Consensus Commission, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, has been engaged in dialogue with political parties to secure agreement on reform proposals covering the civil service, judiciary, constitution, electoral system, anti-corruption mechanisms, and law enforcement.

The first round of talks is nearing completion, and a second round is expected soon.

Of the six major commissions formed by the interim government after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s administration on Aug 5, five have been actively engaged in reform planning. The police reform agenda, however, has stalled.

Despite the ongoing reforms, parties like the BNP continue to demand quick general elections.

Riaz maintained that reforms and elections should proceed in parallel, not in conflict.

‘NO LINKS BETWEEN JULY PROCLAMATION, CHARTER’

On Dec 29, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens' Committee announced the release of a July Proclamation, focused on the Uprising, and set Dec 31 for its declaration.

The interim government was not involved in this process, initially, but later entered the development. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement—that led the mass movement culminating into the fall of the Awami League government—changed the plan of declaration’s release.

Alongside finalising the unified list of recommendations from various reform panels, the Consensus Commission is working to bring political parties to an agreement about the agenda.

The July Charter, on the other hand, will be based on feedback from political parties and the public, and be referred to as the National Charter by the commission.

Addressing the confusion surrounding the July Proclamation, Riaz clarified that it differs from the July Charter.

He said, “What the interim government is calling the July Charter is actually the July Proclamation. At the end of last year, leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement discussed this July Proclamation, engaging in dialogue with political parties.

“It made significant progress, but for reasons unknown, it was ultimately not announced.

“The National Consensus Commission is not connected to those discussions between the political parties and the interim government, as the idea of the July Proclamation predates the establishment of the commission.

“So, what they [government] are referring to is the proclamation. They’re calling it a charter because the proper term for proclamation does not exist in Bengali.

“The initiative we undertook through the National Consensus Commission is to create a charter with specific recommendations for state reforms. Whether we call it the July Charter depends on our ability to finalise it by July. These concepts are distinct, and I acknowledge that some misunderstanding exists about both.”

‘CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM OR REFERENDUM’

A debate rages on about the possibilities for constitutional amendment without the National Parliament involved. Some advocate for a Constituent Assembly, while others suggest a Constitutional Reform Council. Certain parties, including the BNP, push for the involvement of the National Parliament.

In response to this, Riaz said: “You refer to constitutional amendment; whether you call it addition, subtraction, or rewriting, it ultimately requires a mandate from the citizens. Different methods to obtain that mandate exist.

“In our history, the Constitution has been amended through ordinances, which were later approved by parliament. Thus, there are multiple pathways for this process.

“For instance, a referendum could serve as one method. It’s also possible to hold a referendum alongside a parliamentary election. The proposed charter could be accepted or rejected in the referendum. If accepted, the responsibility then falls on those participating in parliament.

Riaz emphasised that the electoral process can clearly indicate whether the citizens support constitutional reform, given that the issue is presented to the public during the election. The electorate voted in favour of it, indicating their support for such actions. Additionally, political parties will also address many other issues.

‘ELECTORAL REFORM POSSIBLE BEFORE ELECTION’

BNP demands that national elections be held quickly after the necessary reforms are completed, also seeking a roadmap for the elections.

The chief advisor said that if the political parties agree on organising elections with fewer reforms, the elections will be held in December this year. And if they vote in favour of completing the reforms in their entirety, the national polls will be held by June next year.

According to Riaz, the ongoing reform process can be completed earlier and elections can be held in December or around that time.

“The most important thing is that the ongoing reform process cannot be determined in this manner. The reform process is in progress. Some of those are in the state structure, very urgent changes, amendments, additions are needed.”

Demanding that it is very important to make some reforms in the election system for free and fair elections, Riaz said: “We want everyone to be able to express their opinions without fear. As a result, some things may happen earlier, you can see some of these changes. Some reforms are being made, right?

“I don’t think that the elections will be disrupted if there are no reforms from now on. Some immediate work is being done, the promise of social contract, the charter as you may call it. That has to be ensured.”

Highlighting that the election process is not the work of the Consensus Commission, but rather the work of the interim government and the Election Commission, he said, “They [government] can determine when [election] can be held."

News Courtesy:

bdnews24 | May 15, 2025