BNP hopes for 'minimum consensus' on state reforms as talks begin

The BNP has expressed hope that political parties will reach a 'minimum consensus' on state reforms through talks to facilitate swift organising of the national election, the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said today (15 February). 

"There will be discussions on the reports provided by the reform commissions. The political parties will engage in talks with the commissions, and efforts will be made to reach a consensus," he told reporters after the first meeting of the National Consensus Commission at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital this afternoon, chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

The BNP leader said political parties participated in initial discussions with the Consensus Commission, reports UNB. 

"Different political parties made various remarks there."

"We hope that minimum consensus will be reached regarding the reforms, and that the national election will be held swiftly based on that consensus. This is our expectation," he said.

He also said the meeting was merely an introductory session and that there was no constructive discussion. 

In response to a question from reporters, Fakhrul said, "We [BNP] have said several times that we want the national election held first, before any other election."

Earlier, major political parties, including the BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, had begun their meeting with the National Consensus Commission, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, today.

The meeting began at 3pm at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

This was the first meeting between political parties and the commission.

Delegations from Jamaat-e-Islami, LDP, Jatiya Party (Kazi Jafar), Nagorik Oikya, Islami Andolan, Khilafat Majlish, GanoSanghati Andolan, Gono Odhhikar Parishad, and Jatiya Nagorik Committee also  participated in the meeting.