The seven-day time, set by the interim government, for political consultations to reach a consensus on implementing the July Charter will end today with, major parties largely disregarding the government call.
The period, intended to allow the parties concerned to resolve their differences over the charter and the proposed national referendum, is about to conclude without any tangible progress, highlighting growing frustration over the government approach.
Most parties, with the exception of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, criticised the interim government for instructing them to 鈥榞o and discuss,鈥� calling it a politically flawed and improper method.
Although the Jamaat had taken the initiative to arrange discussions among the parties, other major parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, decided not to respond positively, arguing that the government should have invited them directly.
A BNP standing committee meeting stressed that they would have taken part in the discussions only if the interim government head had formally invited them, also demanding that any dialogue must guarantee that the upcoming Jatiya Sangsad elections would be held on schedule.
An emergency advisory council meeting on November 2 with chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair urged the political parties to reach a consensus in a week on the July Charter implementation, including the timing and subject of the proposed referendum.
The council also warned that if the parties failed to agree, the government would proceed on its own.
Despite these instructions, the deadline is about to be passed without a resolution, reflecting deep divisions among political factions.
BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday cautioned the interim government against displaying excessive assertiveness by imposing a rigid deadline.
He described the approach as inappropriate for a non-elected administration. Speaking at an event organised by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in Dhaka, he said that the government鈥檚 mandate was limited to conducting free and fair elections, and BNP鈥檚 support would extend only up to that point.
Salahuddin also slammed the government for contacting the BNP via other parties rather than inviting it directly, asserting that the party maintained active communication with all groups, including the National Citizen Party and the Jamaat-e-Islami.
He reaffirmed that the referendum must be held alongside the JS polls, warning that holding it separately would be costly and divisive.
Jamaat assistant secretary general Hamidur Rahman Azad remarked that the current behaviour of the BNP showed similarities with the Awami League.
He made the comments on Saturday at a discussion regarding the BNP鈥檚 rejection of Jamaat proposal for talks on implementing the July Charter.
Azad said that the BNP secretary general had been invited, but he said that they would not respond to Jamaat鈥檚 call.
鈥業n the past, regimes always insisted that they would not sit with certain parties. Can鈥檛 we move beyond this culture? If the BNP issues an invitation, the Jamaat will attend and will also invite others,鈥� the Azad said.
He raised the issue while speaking at a dialogue organised by Trace Consultancy at a hotel in Dhaka.
NCP joint convener Sarwar Tushar also criticised the government鈥檚 handling of the consultations, saying that its approach had created a new deadlock and could push the political climate towards conflicts.
Speaking to 抖阴精品, Tushar argued that the government, not the political parties, should have taken the initiative to ensure a productive dialogue.
He described the instruction to 鈥榞o and discuss鈥� as an utterly wrong political approach, observing that the government鈥檚 inaction reflected its incapacity and lack of foresight.
In the current political climate, Tushar said, parties are hesitant to start talks with opponents for fear of appearing to give in.
He said that they had engaged with several groups, including the AB Party, Gono Odhikar Parishad, and parties affiliated with the Ganatantra Mancha, and had also tried to persuade the BNP.
Revolutionary Workers鈥� Party of Bangladesh general secretary Saiful Haque said that disagreements over the implementation of the July Charter and the proposed national referendum cannot be resolved through street protests or by exerting pressure.
The government, he said, must take steps to overcome the political crisis based on the general consensus of political parties.
Saiful said that the majority of parties had already agreed on holding the referendum alongside the JS elections in February, leaving the government no room to act outside this consensus.
He also slammed the National Consensus Commission and the government for their shortsightedness in implementing the July Charter, saying that it caused political divisions and unfairly shifted the responsibility to the political parties.