Second-round talk creates opportunity to know each other’s positions: Prof Ali Riaz
National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz today said the second round of talk has provided an opportunity for participants to better understand each other’s positions, especially in light of the differing opinions that emerged during the first round.
He made the remark at a press briefing following the third meeting of the second-round talk with political parties, held this afternoon at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
“The second-round talk has started due to differences of opinion in the initial-stage talks. In the first-round talks, the political parties expressed their positions separately. But in the second-round, an opportunity for mutual discussions has been created," observed Ali Riaz.
He said that in that context, the parties are getting to know their own positions as well as the positions of others. In the second-round of the discussion, all political parties are also giving their opinions and exchanging views, which are helping the commission move forward, he added.
Professor Ali Riaz also said that two issues were discussed with the political parties today: the National Constitutional Council (NCC) and the power of the President.
He said that the political parties feel the need for a constitutional institution for appointments to constitutional posts. Although there are differences of opinion among a couple of parties on this issue, all have agreed on a constitutional system, he added.
Mentioning that there are two proposals for the Constitutional Reform Commission and the Electoral Reform Commission in the presidential election, Ali Riaz said that discussion has also been taken place on increasing the power of the President for the balance of power. “Discussions on these issues will continue again,” he added.
Representatives of 30 political parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gonosanghati Andolan, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Biplobi Workers Party, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, participated in today's discussion.
The commission is also scheduled to continue discussion with the political parties tomorrow.