Staff Correspondent

The interim government will start formal talks with political parties in February next for reaching a consensus over the reform initiatives.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said this at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy after the submission of the reports of the four reform commissions.

"I think the talks with political parties could be opened in the middle of February next," said Rizwana Hasan.

However, Asif Nazrul said if the coordination works can be finished quickly, the formal talks with political parties can be opened in the first week of February.

Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and CA’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam also spoke.

Earlier, the chiefs of four commissions -- Constitutional Reform Commission, Electoral Reform Commission, Police Administration Reform Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Reform Commission-- submitted their reports to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at his office.

At the briefing, the advisers said the reform commissions have been given one more month to coordinate regarding overlapping issues and carry out related works.

However, the full reports of six reform commissions-these four commissions, the Judiciary Reform Commission and the Public Administration Reform Commission- will be made public by January 31 next.

About the reform plan, Asif Nazrul said there are four phases of the government reform work plan –-- preparation of the reform reports by the commissions, holding talks with political parties to reach consensus over reform proposals made by the commissions, formation of necessary laws and policies on the basis of consensus and implementation of agreed reform proposals.

He said a national consensus commission has been formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus for holding talks with the stakeholders.

“We hope and wish that we will be able to complete the entire tasks. However, this depends mainly on the consensus of the political parties --how much they can agree on reforms,” said the law adviser. Referring to the announcement made by the Chief Adviser in his national address on December 16 last over election time, he said if political parties agree for minimum reform, the election would be held this year and if they want more desired reforms, the election would be held by June, 2026.

During the talks, the government will identify the minimum reform issues and there is political consensus on the issues.

Besides, the government will also identify other desired reform issues, he said.

“If they (the chiefs of the six commissions) can finish the work early, it (talks with political parties) could start in the first week of February,” said Asif Nazrul.

Talking about the coordination works of the commissions, Rizwana said the government will extend the working time for the six commissions by one month through a notification on Thursday.

She said the government will be able to give a roadmap on what reforms should be done instantly and what should be done later. “We think we will be able to give you a roadmap within a month,” she said.

Asif Mahmud said people have aspirations for reform and the reform commissions have addressed the public aspirations. “We believe that the aspirations of the July Uprising and the aspirations for a structural reform of Bangladesh will be implemented,” he said.

The government will be able to bring reforms in every sector of the state system on the basis of consensus and talks will be held with all stakeholders including political parties and civil society over the reports of the reform commissions, said the LGRD adviser.

“Following consensus among all, our government will take the responsibility of implementing it (reforms). In this regard, we expect cooperation from all,” he said.