Political parties have agreed on the formation of a five-member search committee to recommend appointments to the Election Commission, marking a breakthrough in the ongoing reform talks.

“The consensus on the Election Commission is a turning point in our journey towards national consensus,” said Ali Riaz, vice-president of the National Consensus Commission, following the 18th meeting in the second phase of the reform talks held at the Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday.

Ali Riaz acknowledged the concessions made by political parties to reach the agreement, saying that the consensus would pave the way for the establishment of an independent and effective Election Commission.

He also announced the commission’s plan to hold marathon talks next Sunday and Monday, aiming to finalise decisions on the remaining key proposals by 31 July – a widely expected deadline for the July Charter declaration.

According to the agreement, the search committee for the Election Commission will be headed by the Speaker of Parliament and include the Deputy Speaker (from the opposition), the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and a judge of the Appellate Division nominated by the Chief Justice.

The committee will begin its work 90 days prior to the expiry of the existing commission. The Parliament Secretariat, under the direction of the Speaker, will provide institutional support in this regard.

The President will appoint the individuals nominated by the search committee to the Election Commission for a five-year term.

The reform would require an amendment to Article 118 of the Constitution, and all procedures – including eligibility criteria, public calls for applications, and vetting mechanisms – will be codified in a new law.

Although Wednesday’s talks reached consensus on the Election Commission, other agenda items discussed – including the formation of appointment committees for five key constitutional and statutory bodies such as the Public Service Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), and the Ombudsman – remained unresolved, as delegates had to attend a meeting called by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Some 30 political parties participated in the talks, including the BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), AB Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gono Forum, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Ganosanghati Andolon, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BaSoD), and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasod).

After Wednesday’s session, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, who is leading the party’s delegation in the reform talks, said, “The decision that the nation has reached unanimously today is now only a matter of completing the legal process.”

Describing the progress in forming an effective, independent and accountable Election Commission as very significant, the BNP leader added that civil society, political parties and members of the public would be able to submit names for consideration.

However, three left-leaning parties – CPB, BaSoD, and Jasod – staged a symbolic 10-minute walkout in protest against what they termed the interim government’s ‘authoritarian conduct’ following Monday’s tragic crash of an aircraft into Milestone School in the capital.

CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said they boycotted the reform talks for 10 minutes to protest the law enforcement’s actions against students and guardians. He questioned the visit of two advisers to the crash site in Uttara, noting that they had not gone to Gopalganj following another recent incident.

Responding to the symbolic protest, Ali Riaz said, “We welcome the rights they exercised. We believe their views have been expressed, and the government will take them into consideration.”