The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) briefly walked out of the National Consensus Commission’s meeting on Monday during talks about how top constitutional officials should be appointed. However, the party later returned to join the rest of the session.
The meeting was held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka as part of the second round of political discussions. BNP leaders left when the discussion started on appointments to the Public Service Commission (PSC), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), and Ombudsman.
BNP had already said they would take part in later discussions on women’s representation in Parliament. As promised, they returned after a short break, said officials from the Commission.
Professor Ali Riaz, Vice-Chairman of the Commission, confirmed BNP’s return and said discussions would continue. He added that while not all issues have been resolved—such as the powers of the President—some progress has been made.
Riaz also said that a draft of the “July Charter,” which outlines proposed reforms, would be sent to all political parties soon. The Charter includes ideas and suggestions from the ongoing talks.
Monday’s session focused on how major constitutional bodies are appointed and how women’s political participation can be improved.
Just days earlier, on July 23, three other parties — including the Communist Party of Bangladesh — staged a symbolic walkout during another session. That protest was in response to alleged police action against students after a training aircraft crash.
The National Consensus Commission was created in early July by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus after mass protests. Its goal is to help all political parties agree on reforms that will lead to fair elections. So far, the Commission has been holding daily meetings with political leaders, civil society, and experts to create a roadmap known as the “July Charter.”
