Interim govt will implement parts of July Charter, rest by political govt: CA tells former US ambassador, diplomats
CA Yunus told the diplomats that political parties would sign a July Charter after the conclusion of the dialogue on the reforms
The interim government will implement parts of the recommendations in the July Charter, while the rest will be implemented by a political government, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus told American diplomats today (6 March).
Political parties will sign a July Charter after the conclusion of the dialogue on the reforms recommended by the six commissions, he said during an hour-long meeting with former US ambassador William B Milam, who was stationed in Bangladesh in the early 1990s, and former American diplomat Jon Danilowicz, president and executive director of Right to Freedom.
The July Charter, inspired by the July movement, is a document that the interim government aims to establish by building a consensus with political parties and stakeholders on essential reforms.
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"The July Charter will guide us," he said after the two US diplomats paid a courtesy call on Yunus at his official residence Jamuna in Dhaka.
Former ambassador Milam lauded the interim government's reform initiatives. He said the July uprising has offered big opportunities to carry out sweeping reforms and establish a true democracy in Bangladesh.
The diplomats updated the chief adviser about the work of the Right to Freedom and their plan to expand its work in Bangladesh as part of its efforts to assist the country in its democratic transition.
Yunus appreciated the work of the non-profit group and also the efforts by the two diplomats to champion human rights and democratic values in Bangladesh.
Jon Danilowicz, who was a deputy ambassador of the US in Dhaka, said Bangladesh needs positive narratives and serious efforts to tackle the menace of fake news and disinformation.
They also discussed the current Bangladesh-US relations, the Rohingya crisis, the impact of dwindling aid for the much-persecuted Myanmar refugees, recovering billions of dollars stolen during the previous regime, the chief adviser's attempt to revive the Saarc and possible dates for the upcoming elections.
The chief adviser said the elections would be held either in December, provided the political parties agreed to fewer reforms ahead of the vote, or by June next year.
