Dhaka, July 14 -- Political parties have failed to reach an agreement over two issues discussed in Monday's reform talks ---the election system for 100 women seats in the parliament and the election system for the upper house of the proposed bicameral parliament.

"Since the issues still remain unsettled, the commission thinks it is appropriate to resolve them before proceeding further," said vice chair of the National Consensus Commission (NCC) Prof Ali Riaz.

He made the remarks at a press briefing in the afternoon on the conclusion of the 12th day of the second-round dialogue between the commission and the political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

Prof Ali Riaz said most of the parties agreed earlier on raising ...