Next parliament must complete constitutional reforms within 180 days
However, the order does not clarify what procedure will be followed if the reform is not completed within the specified timeframe
The July Charter implementation order mandates that the next parliament — which will serve as the Constitutional Reform Council — must complete the constitutional reform process within 180 working days from the first session, if the 'yes' vote wins in the referendum to be held on the day of the national polls.
The order, signed by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, was issued though a gazette today (13 November).
However, the order does not clarify what procedure will be followed if the reform is not completed within the specified timeframe.
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Earlier, the Consensus Commission had recommended that the council be given 270 days to complete the task.
It also proposed that if the reforms were not completed within that period, the amendment proposals in line with the July Charter would be automatically incorporated into the constitution. This provision, however, was not included in the final gazette.
The omission is speculated to have been made in response to objections from several political parties, who opposed the idea of automatic incorporation of constitutional amendments.
According to the gazette, approved referendum proposals must be added to the constitution within 180 days by the parliament.
If parliament fails to do so, the Consensus Commission's original draft proposed an alternative: the government would prepare a draft Constitutional Amendment Bill to be placed in a second referendum.
If this bill passed, the Constitutional Reform Council would approve the proposals without any changes to their original content.
Presenting the recommendations last month, Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz expressed hope that the next parliament would fulfil its assigned responsibilities within the specified timeframe, so that automatic approval is not necessary.
Once the necessary constitutional amendments, additions and deletions are made, parliament must approve them, after which the council's tenure would end, he added.
He also mentioned that members of parliament would take two separate oaths: one as members of the constitution reform council and another as members of parliament, with the speaker presiding over both.
The July National Charter 2025 was signed on 17 October amid a boycott by several political parties, including the National Citizen Party (NCP).
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, members of the National Consensus Commission and leaders of different political parties signed the charter at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka.
