Dhaka, April 19 -- Ali Riaz, vice-chairman of the National Consensus Commission, has said that the leadership of the movement against authoritarianism coupled with the public's aspirations have laid the foundation for a new political arrangement to drive state reform.

He made the remarks on Saturday during his opening speech at a dialogue with the National Citizen Party (NCP) at the LD Hall of the National Parliament.

"It's because of the leadership behind today's movement that we are even able to sit and speak here. For that, we are grateful," Riaz said.

"History will remember you. You have contributed a shining chapter to the nation's story," he added.

He hailed the NCP's unwavering resistance against what he called prolonged "fasci...