National Consensus Commission (NCC) Vice- Chairman Professor Ali Riaz has warned that if Bangladesh's national election is not held in February 2026, it could trigger internal instability and pose risks to national security.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion at the Prothom Alo office in the capital on Saturday, Prof Riaz, however, cautioned that an election alone will not resolve the country's political crisis without consensus on structural reforms. The event, titled "Path to Political Consensus for the Election," brought together political leaders, economists, academics, and civil society representatives.
"If the election is not held in February, it will not only lead to instability but also disrupt national security," Prof Riaz added.
"However, if there is no agreement on the necessary structural changes, I fear the election will not bring about any fundamental shift." Prof Riaz argued that the root of Bangladesh's crisis lies in entrenched institutional weaknesses, exacerbated by a personality-driven authoritarian regime.
"If we keep the same structure and make only minimal changes, one party will win and govern, but nothing fundamental will change. We want a consolidated democracy, but despite several attempts since independence, we have failed to achieve that," he added.
Reflecting on the work of the Consensus Commission, which began on February 15, Prof Riaz noted that over 30 political parties had engaged in dialogue on governance, the judiciary, administration, police, and constitutional issues.
"They remained tolerant of each other - to me, that is the most positive outcome," he said.
The commission has so far agreed on 84 issues, though disagreements remain on several fundamental questions, particularly regarding executive power and accountability.
He also questioned the constitutional framework under which the current government operates, asking: "If we were fully operating within the constitution, would we need 11 reform commissions? Would we be discussing constitutional issues at all?"
According to Prof Riaz, political parties have proposed six different pathways forward, while experts have offered two. While there is broad agreement on solutions outside the constitution - which could be implemented by ordinances or executive orders - major disagreements persist over constitutional reforms.
"The core aspiration is clear: we don't want another Sheikh Hasina. If that is the starting point, then we must chart a path that ensures it," he said.
The discussion was introduced by Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman and moderated by executive editor Sajjad Sharif. Participants included leaders from the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Ganosamhati Andolan, and the National Citizen Party, as well as representatives from civil society, academia, and business.
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