Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has voiced optimism that Bangladesh’s ongoing multi-party dialogue will culminate in a unifying “July Consensus Charter,” marking a significant milestone toward national reform and political stability. His remarks came during the opening session of the second phase of talks hosted by the National Consensus Commission on June 2 at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
Leaders from 30 political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and NCP, participated in the meeting. A three-member BNP delegation, led by Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed, also joined in support of the dialogue process.
Dr. Yunus praised the constructive spirit shown by all parties, noting their deep engagement and willingness to go beyond formal discussions to hold internal deliberations. “I feared hesitation, but I found commitment,” he said. “These are the meetings I cherish the most—they’re shaping the future of Bangladesh.”
He traced the origins of the reform process to the establishment of twelve national commissions, each tasked with developing proposals within 90 days. These efforts laid the foundation for the creation of the National Consensus Commission, led by Professor Ali Riaz, which Dr. Yunus described as a transformative initiative.
Summarizing the first phase of talks, Dr. Yunus said the goal is to formalize agreed-upon points in the upcoming July Charter. The second phase aims to close remaining gaps and expand consensus areas. “We are close. With just a bit more effort, we can finalize something historic,” he urged.
He concluded on a hopeful note, emphasizing unity over division: “We have already agreed on much. Instead of deepening rifts, we are building bridges. I believe we will succeed in creating a charter that reflects our shared national vision.”
