BNP submits feedback on July Charter draft, opposing its placement above Constitution

The BNP has submitted its written opinion on the draft July Charter, opposing the proportional representation (PR) in elections and any provision that would place the Charter above the Constitution.

The party also intends to hold talks with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus soon on the matter, sources told TBS today (20 August).

The BNP emailed its opinion on the draft July Charter to the National Consensus Commission on Wednesday evening, after earlier indications it would do so on Thursday. 

The Commission had sent the final draft of the Charter on 16 August, seeking feedback from political parties.

A BNP source said the Standing Committee met twice this week to scrutinise the draft. The meetings also reviewed proposals for a 'note of dissent.' Earlier, during talks with the Commission, the party issued 'note of dissent' on several proposals.

BNP Standing Committee members viewed the July Charter's eight-point pledge as unnecessary, saying that the very act of political parties signing the charter amounts to a pledge, making a separate one redundant. 

They also objected to point 4 of the pledge, which seeks to make all charter provisions constitutionally binding and immune from judicial challenge. 

According to BNP leaders, no document can override the Constitution and that citizens must retain the right to seek legal remedies if harmed in life, property, or other matters.

BNP leader Salahuddin on Tuesday said that prioritising the Charter over the Constitution would set a "bad precedent" for the country.

He said, "It [Charter] states that all provisions, proposals, and recommendations of the July Charter will take precedence over the Constitution, even if there is any legal conflict. This means it would stand above the Constitution. Can any agreement or document be a supra-constitutional instrument? It cannot."