What political parties said after attending Consensus Commission's first meeting

As many as 27 political parties, including BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, attended the first meeting of the National Consensus Commission at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital today (15 February).

During the meeting, the majority of the parties told the commission that they want the national election to be held first, followed by the local government elections.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed the hope that political parties will reach a 'minimum consensus' on state reforms through talks to facilitate the quick holding of the national election.

"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 said after attending the meeting.

He stated that different political parties made various remarks at the meeting.

Briefing reporters, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher said they want necessary reforms to the country's overall structure before the national election.

He said the party will support all positive decisions of the reform commissions.

Khilafat Majlis Secretary General Mamunul Haque said, "We want the national elections to be held in December after the necessary reforms. Political parties should then proceed with the local elections based on a consensus."

Meanwhile, 12-party alliance, Labor Party, Zonayed Saki's Ganosamhati Andolon, Jamiat Ulama-e Islam, Gano Adhikar Parishad have expressed a preference for the national election to be held first.

During the meeting, the Bangladesh Revolutionary Workers' Party has demanded the national election be held within this year.

"We outlined three key tasks for the government - ensuring the trial of genocide [committed during the July-August uprising], completing necessary reforms, and holding the national election within this year," the party's General Secretary Saiful Haque told reporters today (15 February) after the meeting.

Saiful Haque stated that the chief adviser has made it clear that neither the Consensus Commission nor the government intends to impose any proposals. 

"Instead, Yunus said Prof Ali Riaz will seek to develop a national charter through discussions and mutual understanding. Once a consensus is reached on this charter, the matters of national elections and constitutional reforms will be addressed accordingly," he added.

Meanwhile, AB Party said they want improvement in  law and order situation first before holding any election.

AB Party Member Secretary Mojibur Rahman Monju said, "We want law and order reform first and then election. If the law enforcement authorities work properly, whether local or national elections are held first doesn't matter.

"If they ensure law and order, then we will propose which election should be held first, but not now. It is a vulnerable time for election."

Speaking to reporters, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman Andaleeve Rahman Partho said, "We do not want local elections before the national election. Because if local elections are held first, it will be difficult for the government to handle the law and order situation. 

"We are satisfied with the activities [of the government] in the last six months. We are with the government."

Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz said alongside discussions on reforms, steps should also be taken to hold early elections through consensus, ensuring necessary reforms are implemented within a reasonable timeframe. 

"To facilitate this, copies of the recommendations should be provided to each party, with a set deadline for their feedback," he said.

He further said given the complexity and time-consuming nature of this process, it cannot be accomplished through a single courtesy meeting, but this meeting can serve as a starting point.

Parties demand ban on Awami League

Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur stated that political parties have expressed their views on the Reform Commission's reports, with most of them agreeing on the need to ban the Awami League. 

"We wanted today's meeting to make a decision regarding the Awami League," he said.

Nur also noted that some parties suggested holding local government elections first could lead to increased conflicts and violence at the grassroots level, allowing the Awami League to take advantage of the situation. 

However, he disagreed with this interpretation, arguing that disruptions could still occur even if local elections were postponed.

Reflecting on the past 53 years, Nur pointed out that regardless of how fair a national government is, it always influences local government elections. 

He further criticised the stagnation and inefficiency within public administration and law enforcement, attributing it to the continued influence of administrative fascism. 

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement proposed cancelling the Awami League's registration as the first step toward banning the party, arguing that this would render it politically dysfunctional.

"We no longer want the pattern of misrule that the Awami League upheld. All political parties must commit to reforms that eliminate such governance failures, as it is their responsibility to the current generation," said Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Student Movement.