With several changes in wording, the National Consensus Commission on Tuesday sent the final version of the July National Charter 2025 to political parties.
In immediate responses, several political parties and alliances said that they might not attend the July Charter signing ceremony, scheduled to be held on October 17, unless they see the finalised implementation method.
Though the Bangladesh Nationalist Party said that it would later decide about signing the charter, some of its like-minded party leaders said that they would surely sign the charter.
Five left-leaning parties said that their presence in the signing ceremony was uncertain as the consensus commission didn鈥檛 address their demand for maintaining the constitution鈥檚 four fundamental principles in the charter.聽
Representatives of parties, including Islami Andolan Bangladesh, collectively raising their five-point demand -- including proportional representation in both chambers of the proposed bicameral legislature -- said that they would decide about the charter signing after their group meeting.聽聽
Formally beginning its task on February 15, the National Consensus Commission formulated the July Charter after holding three rounds of dialogue with more than 30 political parties till October 8.
Within the period, the commission prepared at least three drafts of the charter, including one that was revealed on October 10.
The July Charter has three parts: a prologue with historical background of the reforms initiatives, an 84-point majority parties-agreed reform issues, and a covenant.
A scrutiny of the document, however, shows that the 84 reform points accompany at least 58 dissenting notes, mostly from the BNP and its like-minded parties, and the left-leaning parties.
The Jamaat and other religion-based parties and the National Citizen Party have put up a few dissents.
The charter acknowledges opinions from 34 political parties that participated in the NCC dialogue.
About attending the charter signing ceremony, BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said, 鈥榃e have received the final version of the charter. We will decide about our presence in the signing ceremony after reviewing the document.鈥�
National Citizen Party joint secretary Javed Rasin said, 鈥楢s the charter鈥檚 final version does not contain its implementation method, our party will decide the next course of action after discussing the issue at the party forum.鈥�
Islami Andolan Bangladesh presidium member Ashraf Ali Akon said that he was frustrated as the final version of the charter did not include the provision for PR for the proposed lower house.
鈥楾he charter implementation method has not been finsalised yet. We and other like-minded parties will meet soon to decide about our presence in the signing ceremony,鈥� Ashraf said.
Communist Party of Bangladesh general secretary Abdullah Al Kafi Ratan and Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist) chief coordinator Masud Rana said that their presence in the signing ceremony was uncertain as the commission did not address the demand from the left-leaning parties for maintaining the state鈥檚 existing fundamental principles: nationalism, secularism, socialism and democracy.聽
