Dhaka, July 23 -- The National Consensus Commission started the 18th day of its second-round dialogue with political parties on Wednesday morning, aiming to reach decisions on important reform issues.

The discussion began at about 11:00am at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital with NCC Vice Chair Prof Ali Riaz presiding.

At the outset, three left-leaning parties-Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Basod, and Bangladesh Jasod-staged a symbolic 10-minute walkout in protest against what they called the interim government's 'authoritarian conduct' following Monday's tragic crash of an aircraft into Milestone School and College in Diabari, Uttara.

"We are deeply shocked and outraged. This heinous attack on teachers, students and wom...