National Consensus Commission begins 2nd round of talks with political parties

The National Consensus Commission has begun the second round of discussion with 30 political parties over the recommendations on constitutional reforms.

The closed-door meeting started at 11:30am at the Foreign Service Academy on Tuesday.

Bangladesh Television has been broadcasting the meeting live.

BNP leader Ismail Zabiullah, Jatiya Gonofront's Tipu Biswas, Khilafat Majlis’s Ahmed Abdul Kader, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party's Saiful Haque, Ganasanghati Andolon leader Zonayed Saki, AB Party's Mojibur Rahman Monju, National Republic Party leader Sarbis Alam, Labour Party's Mostafizur Rahman, LDP's Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardy, BLDP's Shahdat Hossain Selim, and Islami Andolon Bangladesh leader Ashraf Ali Akon are among those in attendance.

The talks will touch on Article 70 of the Constitution, the parliamentary standing committee, women’s representation in the lower house, and the commission's recommendations on electoral reforms with the political parties, said the chief advisor's Special Assistant Monir Haider.

Prof Ali Riaz, vice chairman of the commission, is presiding over the meeting with commission members Badiul Alam Mazumdar, Ayub Mia, Safar Raj Hossain, retired justices Emdadul Haque, and Iftekharruzzaman.