NCP submits outlines to Consensus Commission for basic reforms

The National Citizen Party (NCP) submitted its outlines to the National Consensus Commission for fundamental reforms today (6 May).

NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain handed the outlines to National Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Prof Ali Riaz at the outset of a dialogue at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Complex.

A four-member NCP delegation, led by Akhtar Hossain, joined its talks with the National Consensus Commission for the second day.

The discussion started at 10:40am with Ali Riaz in the chair.

Speaking at the function, Akhtar Hossain said the fundamental reforms must reflect three basic issues: balance of power, accountability, and decentralisation.

"Fundamental reforms do not mean reforming the electoral system or constitutional reform based on a two-thirds majority based on seats. Rather, achieving these three things - balance of power, accountability and decentralisation - is the main foundation of fundamental reforms," he said.

About the fundamental reforms, Akhtar Hossain said, "To achieve that, we need to find out how we can free ourselves from the authoritarian and fascist elements in the constitutional and state structures, how we can reflect the national interest by going beyond politician in the appointment of constitutional posts, how we can free the judiciary from politics and present it as a symbol of justice in the true sense, we consider each of these issues to be included in fundamental reforms." 

He said the people of Bangladesh have been oppressed and persecuted due to the governance structure through which Bangladesh has been governed in the last 53 years and the authoritarian and fascist elements that have remained in the state structure.

The NCP member secretary said the students and people of Bangladesh sacrificed their lives in the July Mass Uprising in an effort to find out how to free the constitution and state structure from the authoritarian and fascist elements in a bid to lead Bangladesh towards a democratic state.

Akhtar Hossain said NCP placed the proposals for fundamental reforms so that Bangladesh can integrate itself into the path of democratic elevation instead of being in a fascist and authoritarian structure like in the past.

The NCP delegation members included its Chief Organiser (northern region), Sarjis Alam, Joint Conveners, Sarwar Tushar and Jabed Rasin.

Consensus Commission members Safar Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Badiul Alam Majumdar, Iftekharuzzaman and Mohammad Ayub Miah were present at the discussion, moderated by Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Monir Haider.

The discussion is part of a series of dialogues with political parties to reach a national consensus over the state reform initiatives taken by the interim government.

Earlier on 18 April, the NCP participated in the talks with the Consensus Commission. 

The NCP submitted its written opinions over the reform recommendations to the National Consensus Commission on 24 March.

On March 20 last, the National Consensus Commission opened its dialogues with political parties, aiming to build a national consensus on the reform initiatives undertaken by the interim government.

The commission has already held talks with 25 political parties.

The National Consensus Commission, formed under the leadership of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, aims to establish a unified stance on critical reforms.

Since its inception on 15 February 2025, the commission has been working to finalise recommendations for the state reform proposals.