July Charter: Not all parties signing but commission remains hopeful
Ali Riaz says parties can sign the charter later if not signed by Friday
Highlights
- Consensus Commission's tenure extended till 31 October
- NCP, Gonoforum, CPB, 3 other leftist parties to skip ceremony
- NCP sets 3 conditions, demands charter implementation by CA
- Leftist parties, Gonoforum reject omission of 1971 independence declaration
- BNP, Jamaat confirm participation despite disagreements
- BNP urges inclusion of dissent notes in final document
- Jamaat backs referendum on proportional representation system
The Consensus Commission hopes all political parties will sign the National July Charter 2025 at Friday's ceremony, though several, including the NCP, Gonoforum, and four leftist parties, have announced they will not join the event.
While the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have confirmed that they will attend the ceremony, they too have issued demands and remain vague on whether they will sign the document.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"We hope all parties will sign the July Charter. This is part of the democratic process, and every party has been invited," Consensus Commission Vice Chairman Ali Riaz said at a press conference today (16 October).
"If all signatures are not collected by tomorrow, those willing to sign later will still be able to join the process as partners. We want the signing ceremony to take place in a festive atmosphere. This achievement has come at the cost of many lives," he added.
Ali Riaz also announced that the commission's tenure has been extended until 31 October. He said the commission would submit clear and comprehensive recommendations to the government within this period for implementing the charter and continue its utmost efforts to ensure their execution.
The signing is scheduled for this afternoon at the South Plaza of the National Parliament.
The final draft of the charter requires all signatory parties to make seven pledges, including refraining from questioning its validity or necessity in any court and ensuring legal and constitutional protection at every stage of its implementation.
Sent to 33 political parties on 14 October, the draft states that signatories commit to fully implementing the charter as a new political agreement grounded in democratic values and consensus.
NCP sets conditions
The NCP has declared it will not sign the charter unless three conditions are met.
At an emergency press conference yesterday, NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain said the text of the July Charter Implementation Order and the referendum question must be finalised and made public beforehand.
They said the chief adviser must issue the order as an expression of the people's sovereign will.
If the people approve the charter through a referendum, the note of dissent will hold no validity. Based on that verdict, the next elected parliament, vested with constituent power, will reform the Constitution, to be renamed the Constitution of Bangladesh, 2026.
Four leftist parties, Gonoforum to boycott
Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), the Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), and the Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Bangladesh JaSad) said they will not sign the charter as it recommends omitting the 1971 independence declaration.
At a press briefing in Dhaka yesterday, they said the commission had earlier promised to include the Declaration of Independence but failed to do so in the final draft.
They said dissenting opinions were ignored and alleged that the commission added several proposals not unanimously agreed upon.
Meanwhile, Gonoforum said it will not sign unless the declaration of Independence is explicitly included. After meeting the chief adviser on Wednesday, its General Secretary Mizanur Rahman said, "If the charter is not amended to reflect our position, we will not endorse it."
Notes of dissent must be included: BNP
Despite differences, both the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami confirmed their participation.
BNP's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said they will decide whether to sign the charter only if its "notes of dissent" on several issues are officially incorporated into the document.
Speaking at a rally in Thakurgaon, he said, "BNP is waiting to see whether its differing opinions are acknowledged in the charter."
Following the Consensus Commission's meeting on Wednesday, the party's Standing Committee also met and decided that Fakhrul and Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed would sign the July National Charter on behalf of the party.
After the meeting yesterday, Salahuddin told the reporters that while everyone should sign the July charter, points of disagreement or notes of dissent should be recorded point by point.
Meanwhile, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman were invited yesterday by commission member Badiul Alam Majumdar and the chief adviser's Special Assistant (Media) Monir Haidar at Evercare Hospital, where Khaleda has been admitted since Wednesday midnight.
No objection to attending ceremony: Jamaat
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said yesterday that they have no objection to attending the ceremony if unresolved issues can be settled through dialogue.
At a seminar in Dhaka, he urged the inclusion of a proposal for a proportional representation system in both houses, to be put to a referendum.
He also argued that holding the referendum and national election on the same day would be problematic and suggested holding the vote in November.
On Wednesday, Jamaat's Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said there was "no uncertainty" about their participation, adding that all issues related to the charter would be decided through a single, comprehensive referendum.
