Interim government chief adviser and National Consensus Commission chair Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday urged the politicians to reach consensus on the July National Charter鈥檚 execution method so that the 13th national elections, planned for within the first half of February 2026, become a grand festival.
鈥楲et us hold the election without any kind of anxiety and mistrust. Make the reforms successful so you can say with confidence that the elections are held upon a greater consensus,鈥� he said.
The CA made his remarks while addressing representatives of 30 political parties at the consensus commission鈥檚 meeting at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
Yunus was present in the meeting that began at 3:00pm. Only representatives of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party spoke during his presence while other political party leaders took part in the discussion when he left the venue at 4:30pm.
Although the commission鈥檚 tenure is expiring today, it will hold its next meeting on Wednesday as the political parties were yet to reach a consensus on the July charter execution method.
While the interim government did not issue any notice of extending the consensus commission鈥檚 tenure till Sunday night, commission insiders said that the tenure would be extended further till October 15.
The commission began its work on February 15 for six months, which expired on August 15.
In the meeting, Yunus praised the commission and politicians for formulating the July Charter. He reminded the attendees that the charter must be 鈥榚ndorsed鈥� and implemented 鈥榝lawlessly鈥� on the basis of consensus.
鈥楧ifferences of opinion may arise, but we must come to an understanding. To prevent the return of tyranny, unity of yours is not a choice, it is a necessity,鈥� he said, adding that the July uprising presented an 鈥楢laddin鈥檚 genie鈥�, an unprecedented opportunity, for rebuilding the country.
Law adviser Asif Nazrul, addressing the meeting, requested the politicians to finalise the July Charter execution method by November 30.
Citing that the government was firm to hold the national elections before聽 mid-February 2026, he said, 鈥榊ou will not be given indefinite time. Any legal amendments must be done before the schedule of the 13th national elections is announced鈥�.
Saying that the July Charter was formulated with the collective efforts of politicians and the commission, NCC vice-chair Professor Ali Riaz asked for political unity and support.
鈥楾his charter is a continuous outcome of defeating a fascist regime. We have to move forward to continue with the [reform] process. We are liable to the martyrs [in previous democratic movements] to make this process a success,鈥� he said.聽
Regarding the discussion over the July Charter execution method, most of the major parties repeated positions that were conflicting with each other.
Jamaat assistant general secretary Hamidur Rahman Khan Azad said that his party strongly recommended the issuance of a constitutional order which would be cemented by a referendum.
He expressed his party鈥檚 expectation for a level-playing field for participating in the 13th national elections.
BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said that a 鈥榣egally鈥� acceptable method is crucial for sustaining the execution of the July Charter.
Warning about regional security threats in case of delayed national elections, he said that the adoption of the July charter should be done 鈥榗arefully鈥� within the legal framework and should not pose any risk of being challenged in the future.
NCP convener Akhter Hossen expressed his concerns over depending only on constitutional amendments for adopting the July Charter.
Citing several constitutional amendments that were challenged in the High Court and subsequently annulled, he recommended formation of a constituent assembly to cement the July Charter-related major reforms.