National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz spoke at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, July 3, 2025 (BSS)- National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz today said political parties participating in discussion reached a consensus on provision related to presidential clemency and the decentralization of the judiciary. 

The consensus has been reached in today’s discussions with political parties, he said at a press briefing at the Doel Hall of the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

Prof. Ali Riaz said the President’s clemency powers have been widely misused in the past, prompting political parties to recognize the need to amend the Article 49 of the Constitution.

The Vice-Chairman of the Commission said that the consensus on the proposed amendment to the Article 49 of the Constitution affirmed that the President shall hold the authority to grant pardon, reprieve, and respite for any sentence imposed by a court, tribunal, or other lawful entity. This power shall also extend to remitting, suspending, or commute such sentences, and must be exercised in accordance with the criteria, principles, and procedures established by law.

He expressed hope that the political consensus formed on the basis of the Commission’s proposed amendment to Article 49 will eventually be implemented through its incorporation into the Constitution. This would put an end to the misuse of this power that has persisted long time, he added.

Highlighting the progress made on the decentralization of the judiciary, Professor Ali Riaz said that the permanent seat of the Supreme Court will remain in the capital. However, instead of the Chief Justice being able to establish circuit benches from time to time with the President’s approval, there will now be permanent benches in each division, established by the Chief Justice, he said.

Thus, a consensus has been reached on establishing permanent divisional benches of the High Court, he said, adding that Article 100 of the Constitution will be clearly amended in this regard.

To foster unity around the recommendations made by various reform commissions formed under the interim government and build consensus on key issues of state reform, the National Consensus Commission today convened the ninth day of its second-phase discussions with political parties, aiming to finalize the “July Charter” at the earliest opportunity.

Representatives from 30 political parties participated in the discussions with the National Consensus Commission, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizens’ Party (NCP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gonosonghoti Andolon, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Biplobi Workers Party, and Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party.

The Commission has scheduled the next round of discussions for July 7.

According to the Commission, discussions have also resolved the issue of amending Article 70 of the Constitution, chairmanship of parliamentary standing committees and demarcation of electoral constituency boundaries.