Staff Correspondent

National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman and Constitutional Reform Commission Chief Professor Dr Ali Riaz today expressed his optimism that more specific steps will be taken regarding the elections very soon.

"Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has made it clear that election will be held in December and the government has reiterated it multiple times. Personally, I hope that concrete steps will be taken regarding this matter very soon," he told a press conference.

The National Consensus Commission (NCC) organized the press conference at the LD Hall of the National Parliament here.

Ali Riaz said there is no conflict between the election and the reform process. "I see no reason for the electoral process to be interrupted due to the work of the NCC," he added.

He mentioned that the NCC has made a total of 166 recommendations, including 70 related to constitutional reform, 27 to electoral reform, 23 to the judiciary, 26 to public administration and 20 to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The NCC Vice-Chairman said that 34 political parties have been asked to give their opinions by March 13. “Subject to receiving their opinions, we will start direct discussions with the representatives of the parties,” he said.

“For this, we are yet to set a specific date, when the discussions will begin and when the opinions of the party are received,” he added.

The NCC Vice-Chairman revealed that 34 political parties have been requested to submit their opinions by March 13, saying, "Once these opinions are received, discussions will begin with the representatives of the parties".

He, however, said a specific date for the start of these discussions has not yet been set, as it will depend on when the parties' opinions are received.

"The national charter will be drafted by discussing and prioritizing the issues on which the political parties are in agreement," Ali Riaz said, adding, "Our goal is to have a swift discussion, reach a consensus in a short time and prepare the national charter."

In response to a query, he said that not only political parties, but every citizen of the country has the right to give clear opinions on all reforms and for this, the opinions of political parties as well as citizens will be sought on important recommendations through the website.

In response to another query, he stated that not only political parties but every citizen of the country has the right to express their views on all reforms. To facilitate this, the opinions of both political parties and citizens will be gathered on key recommendations through the website, he opined.

Public Administration Reform Commission chief Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, Police Reform Commission chief Safar Raj Hossain, Election Reform Commission chief Badiul Alam Majumder, Judiciary Reform Commission chief Justice Emdadul Haque and Anti-Corruption Commission reform commission chief Dr Iftekharuzzaman, among others, were present.

On February 12, the Cabinet Division issued a gazette notification to form a seven-member National Consensus Commission with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus as its chairman.

The commission will engage in discussions with political parties and stakeholders to build a national consensus for considering and accepting the recommendations of the commissions tasked with reforming the electoral system, police, judiciary, public administration, constitution, anti-corruption and in preparation for the upcoming elections. It will also recommend what have to do base on this, according to the notification.