Bangladesh, July 22 -- After four days of dialogue, political parties have failed to reach concensus on three major issues: whether the prime minister can also serve as party chief, the structure of a caretaker government, and the method of appointing heads of constitutional and statutory bodies.

Speaking after the 17th day of the second phase of talks at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, Vice-Chair of the National Consensus Commission Ali Riaz said around three-quarters of the parties and alliances involved supported separating the roles of prime minister and party leader.

"A few parties expressed dissent. We have called on them to reconsider their stance."

He added that most parties were open to allowing the same individual to se...