July Charter: Draft urges parties to implement reforms within 2 years of new govt

The draft of the July Charter, prepared by the National Consensus Commission, urges all political parties to commit to implementing proposed reforms – once finalised through consultations – within two years of the formation of the next government.

Today (28 July), the commission sent a draft to political parties without indicating which reform proposals have received consensus so far.

Commission Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz asked parties to submit any feedback or objections over the draft by 30 July.

The development came as the commission began the 20th day of its second phase of meetings with political parties yesterday at 11:30am at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka's Bailey Road.

Professor Ali Riaz said the commission has not yet shared with political parties which reform proposals have consensus and which do not, as the discussions are still interconnected.

"We will send the consolidated list to the parties at a later stage. Based on the additions and omissions suggested by parties, we will move to the next phase after 12pm on 30 July," he said.

"With your cooperation, we hope that we will be able to reach the final process of a charter in the next 2-3 days."

The draft of the July Charter outlines three key commitments. First, it pledges full implementation of the charter, which it says is rooted in national consensus and forged through the sacrifices of thousands of people during the July Uprising last year.

Second, it calls for constitutional and legal amendments, rewriting of laws, and the introduction of new legislation and regulations to implement the proposed reforms in the constitution, judiciary, elections, public administration, police, and anti-corruption systems.

Third, it commits the next elected government to complete the reform process within two years of taking office, with proactive measures to ensure its sustainability.

Discussions on reforming constitutional bodies

At today's meeting, discussions began with proposed reforms concerning four constitutional and statutory bodies – the Public Service Commission, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Office of the Ombudsman.

Ali Riaz said there is broad consensus on the need to strengthen the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and free it from political influence.

He noted that representatives from all political parties and alliances responded positively to a proposal to enshrine the ACC in the constitution through a new article, aiming to bring it under greater transparency and accountability.

However, he added that some participants suggested changes to the proposed framework, while others put forward alternative proposals.

Commenting on the progress of discussions regarding the Public Service Commission, Professor Riaz said that there is consensus among political parties on strengthening the commission and ensuring its independence from political influence.

He added that while there are differing views on recruitment procedures, parties agree on making the PSC more effective and free from partisan control.

"Most parties also support granting the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) constitutional status, although the BNP has opposed the move," he said.

BNP walked out of discussion

Shortly after the session began, the BNP staged a walkout for about 30 minutes in protest.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters, "We are walking out for a while. Because we clearly said before that forming appointment committees for certain institutions and incorporating them into the constitution would create complications in the functioning of the state and the government."

Salahuddin said curtailing the power of the executive branch in appointments to constitutional and statutory bodies could prove problematic in the long term.

"The executive branch must be empowered, not weakened, to meet public expectations and deliver good governance," he said.

Commenting on the BNP's walkout, Ali Riaz said the commission took their position very seriously.

He thanked the BNP delegation for responding positively to the commission's request to return and for rejoining the subsequent discussions.

Jamaat proposes new caretaker government formula

The Jamaat-e-Islami has put forward a new proposal regarding the caretaker government system, aligning broadly with the BNP's stance on the original framework suggested by the Commission.

Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, said, "We suggested that the selection committee for the chief adviser must reach a unanimous decision. Alternatively, in a five-member committee, a 4-1 majority should suffice, and for a seven-member committee, a 5-2 majority should be required."

He added, "We also proposed that ranked choice voting should be conducted through an open ballot to minimise the risk of horse-trading. We referred to the 13th constitutional amendment but recommended that the president should not be treated as the final option and that the judiciary should remain uninvolved."

Taher noted that Jamaat would submit the proposal in writing to the commission by yesterday night.

Professor Ali Riaz said, "Once we receive Jamaat's proposal in writing, we will share it with all political parties, and it will be discussed in tomorrow's [29 July] session."