How can there be consensus? asks BNP’s Salahuddin

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has questioned the approach of the proposed National Consensus Commission, saying mandatory acceptance of its proposals would undermine the idea of consensus.

“If everyone must accept the commission’s proposals, how can there be consensus? The Constitution is not a religious text that cannot be changed,” he said at an event in Dhaka on Saturday.

Speaking at a memorial programme for late President Ziaur Rahman, organised by the Bangladesh Research Analysis and Information Network (BRAIN), he said reforms should be continuous and adaptable to future needs.

“We want reforms that future generations can modify based on new demands. Reform is not a one-time event—it evolves,” he said.

Ahmed claimed the BNP first proposed reforms more than a year before the current interim government was formed. “Our 31-point proposal has opened windows for necessary changes in the interest of the people and the nation.”

He also urged the younger generation to follow the ideals of Ziaur Rahman, describing him as the pioneer of state reform in Bangladesh.