All Parties Back Caretaker Govt Return: Ali Riaz

Professor Ali Riaz, Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission was briefing at the Doel Hall of the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, following the conclusion of the eighth day of the second phase of the Commission’s dialogue with political parties.

Professor Ali Riaz, Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, on Tuesday stated that all political parties in Bangladesh have reached a unified position on the reinstatement of the caretaker government system, marking a significant step forward in the ongoing national dialogue.

“Every political party has expressed a common view on restoring the caretaker government. There is a clear and specific consensus on this issue,” said Professor Riaz at a press briefing held at the Doel Hall of the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, following the conclusion of the eighth day of the second phase of the Commission’s dialogue with political parties.

Riaz said that the day’s discussions went beyond general agreement and focused on defining the structure, formation, and authority of a future caretaker government. He described the dialogue as open and constructive, noting that parties have moved significantly closer to mutual understanding.

“This is not just about principle anymore,” he added. “We are now discussing the practical aspects—how it will be formed, what powers it will hold, and how it will function during the transitional period.”

In addition to the caretaker government issue, another major item on the agenda was the demarcation of parliamentary constituencies. Professor Riaz said that “substantial consensus” was achieved on both immediate and long-term approaches to boundary redefinition.

As a short-term measure, a specialized committee of experts will be formed in collaboration with the Election Commission (EC) to oversee demarcation ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament elections. If such a committee is already in place, necessary revisions will be made, and the demarcation process will proceed in consultation with the restructured body.

For long-term reform, the parties agreed to introduce provisions ensuring constituency boundaries are reviewed after every census or within a 10-year cycle. The changes will be implemented through amendments to the National Parliament Demarcation Act 2021, last revised in 2025. Clause 1(Ga) of Article 119 of the Constitution will also be updated to reflect these commitments.

The press conference was attended by Commission members Justice Md Emdadul Haque, Safar Raj Hossain, Dr Badiul Alam Majumder, Dr Md Ayub Mia, and Monir Haider, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser.

Representatives from 30 political parties took part in Tuesday’s discussion, including major opposition groups like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, as well as National Citizen Party (NCP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gonosanghati Andolon, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Biplobi Workers Party, and the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party.

According to Commission sources, a follow-up meeting with the political parties is scheduled for 10:30 am tomorrow, as the dialogue continues to move toward a broader national consensus on electoral reforms.