Consensus Commission deceived people, political parties by ignoring notes of dissent: Fakhrul
The senior BNP leader warns that if there any any delay or deviation from holding an election that earns public trust, the full responsibility will rest entirely on the chief adviser.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused the National Consensus Commission of deceiving the nation and political parties by omitting the BNP's "notes of dissent" from the final report submitted to the interim government.
"We were astonished to see that when the Consensus Commission's report was published yesterday, our notes of dissent were missing. They were completely ignored. This cannot be called a consensus. Then why was the commission formed at all?
"This is a deception — both with the people and with political parties," Fakhrul said while speaking at a book launching event at the National Press Club today (29 October).
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Members of the Consensus Commission submitted their recommendations to the interim government, headed by Chief Adviser (CA) Muhammad Yunus, at the state guest house Jamuna yesterday (28 October).
The commission's Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz said the commission has recommended that the interim government immediately issue the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025.
However, Fakhrul said, "They [Consensus Commission] promised that our dissenting notes would be documented. But when the report was made public, those points were simply not there."
He demanded that the omissions be corrected immediately, warning that failure to do so would undermine the spirit of national unity.
He also urged CA Yunus to ensure meaningful reforms and deliver an election that earns public trust.
Addressing the CA, the senior BNP leader said, "You must carry out the necessary reforms sincerely and hold an election that will be acceptable to the people. The parliament formed through that election will be the one to resolve the nation's crises.
"Therefore, if there is any failure or if you deviate from this course, the full responsibility will rest entirely on you — and I want to make that very clear."
Highlighting the broader political crisis, Fakhrul said, "At the root of all our problems lies the absence of a truly credible election. Only through a legitimate parliament formed by the people's votes can constitutional reforms be achieved and the nation move forward."
He reiterated that BNP had called for an election immediately after the 5 July uprising, stating, "The longer this election is delayed, the stronger those forces become — those who want to see Bangladesh unstable and prevent true democracy from taking hold."
Reflecting on the July uprising, he lamented that the nation could not utilise the "sacrifice-driven revolution" for the welfare of the people.
Fakhrul questioned whether the nation truly understands where it's going, saying, "Unfortunately, as time passes, we are becoming more divided. We need to understand who is causing these divisions and why."
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.
The 40-page dossier outlines the political history of Bangladesh, covering the British colonial period, the historic Language Movement of 1952, the education movements of 1962, the autonomy movement of 1966, and the mass uprising of 1969.
It also recalls the 1970 general elections, the Liberation War of 1971, and the establishment of a one-party state through constitutional amendments in 1975.
The charter noted that "following various political developments, the country returned to democracy through the parliamentary elections of 1979, initiated by the reintroduction of a multi-party system in 1978. However, that democratic path was short-lived."
It further highlights that between 2009 and 2024, state institutions were dominated by autocratic practices favoring certain individuals, families, and groups.
