July Charter tops agenda in Thursday's Advisory Council meeting
The charter, which includes plans for a referendum and the issuance of the July Order, has become a point of contention among political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
The July National Charter issue has been placed as the number one item for discussion at the Advisory Council meeting tomorrow (13 November), which will be chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
According to sources at the Chief Adviser's Office, Thursday's meeting will discuss six agenda items in total, with "Implementation of the July Charter 2025" listed at the top, followed by four other issues. The "Miscellaneous" item is placed sixth.
The charter, which includes plans for a referendum and the issuance of the July Order, has recently become a point of contention among political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
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The BNP is pressing for the referendum to be held on the same day as the upcoming national election, while Jamaat has demanded that it take place earlier.
Additionally, the BNP has called for the implementation of the July Charter signed by all political parties, whereas Jamaat insists on enforcing the recommendations made by the National Consensus Commission.
After the previous Advisory Council meeting on 3 November, the interim government had given the political parties seven days to reach a consensus on the issue.
However, as the parties failed to do so, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has said the government would now take the decision on its own.
Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul yesterday (11 November) said a final decision regarding the July Charter is expected within the next two to three days.
The Election Commission is set to begin a series of dialogues with registered political parties from tomorrow, ahead of the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election.
As part of this process, the EC will hold talks with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on 19 November, followed by a meeting with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) the next day, according to EC sources.
The EC's initial plan includes inviting 12 political parties on the first day of the talks, with each party allowed to send up to three representatives.
Sources said on 19 November, the commission will hold discussions with Jamaat-e-Islami, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), Bangladesh Development Party, Bangladesh Islami Front, and Khelafat Majlis.
The following morning, the EC will meet representatives from the BNP, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Nagorik Oikya, Gonoshonghoti Andolon, Bangladesh Labour Party, and Jatiya Gonotantrik Party (Jagpa).
Before these, the commission will sit with the Jatiya Party (plough symbol) on 17 November. However, the EC has yet to decide which of the three factions claiming the plough symbol will retain it, sources said.
