Desk Report:
During the interim government, several parties including Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP), and Islamic Andolan sought a legal basis for the July National Charter. The parties believe that signing the charter will not be of any use if the issue is not resolved. Therefore, the parties are continuing discussions and meetings among themselves on whether to finally sign the charter or not. However, several parties including BNP have decided to sign the July Charter.
The National Consensus Commission sent the final statement on the July Charter to the political parties last Thursday. The commission said that it reflects everyone’s views. The political parties have been requested to send the names of two people by 5 pm today, Saturday, to sign the charter. However, it is reported that the commission has not received any names from the parties as of Friday.
It is reported that the BNP is going to sign the July Charter. A source in the party said that a final decision was supposed to be taken on sending names in this regard at the party forum meeting yesterday. However, the meeting had not ended by the time this report was written around 9 pm.
Jamaat-e-Islami leaders met yesterday to evaluate the July National Charter. Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad said that the party is thinking about the July Charter. He told Ajker newspaper, “We are discussing the charter. It is not over yet.” In response to a question on whether the names will be sent to the commission for signing, he said, “We will see, we will consult. Then we will decide.”
On the other hand, the NCPO also met last night to evaluate the final July Charter. The party’s joint convener Javed Rasin told Ajker newspaper that if the implementation procedure commission pushes it towards the government, then it will be pushed to the next parliament or uncertainty. In this situation, whether to sign it or not will be decided after discussing it in the party forum.
The Islamic Movement had sought a legal basis for the July Charter during the interim government. Presidium member Professor Ashraf Ali Akon said that the party will sign the charter if it gets that assurance. He said, “The commission has given a suggestion to the parties. If they accept it, then we will decide whether to sign or not.”
The People’s Rights Council had demanded recognition of the 2018 quota movement in the July charter. But since the quota movement is in the final charter but 2018 is not specified, the party is considering signing the charter. The party’s office secretary Shakil Uzzaman said, “We had demanded recognition of the 2018 quota movement in the July charter. It was not seen in the final charter. In this case, we will decide whether to sign the charter or not at the party forum.”
The Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist) has objections to several issues in the July charter, including state principles and women’s representation in parliament. Sources have said that the party will not sign the charter if these issues are not resolved. The CPB is in favor of keeping only the issues agreed upon by all parties in the national charter. On the other hand, the party objects to the fact that the signatory parties will not be able to raise questions about the charter in court. The party’s general secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said that they will not sign the charter if these issues are resolved. The party will send the names to the commission only after the issues are resolved.
Meanwhile, the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) has decided to sign the July charter. The names of Secretary General Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan and Vice President Tania Rob will be sent on behalf of the party. Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan said, “We have decided to sign the July charter. We will send the names of both to the commission.”
Meanwhile, the commission members met with the commission’s president and chief advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna on Thursday night regarding the July national charter. In the two-hour meeting, the chief advisor said, “The national election to be held next February is not just a general election, it will determine the path of Bangladesh’s future. Therefore, keeping the election in mind, we must finalize the basic reforms. At the same time, we must keep in mind that we have no alternative to holding elections in the first half of February.’
The source said that in the meeting, the Commission informed the Chief Advisor about all the issues including informal meetings with the parties and the opinions of experts on the implementation of the July Charter. The advantages and disadvantages of the parties’ proposals for implementing the Charter were discussed there. At the same time, the political parties agreed to implement the immediately implementable recommendations through ordinances and executive orders. The position of the parties on implementing constitutional issues was also informed to the Chief Advisor.
The meeting also said that the Chief Advisor has been requested to give importance to the issue of reforms so that the issue of reforms does not fall behind in the election frenzy. It was said that giving a complete form to the July Charter is an urgent matter. It is necessary to make the next election proper and fair. It is also said that the Chief Advisor has also expressed support for it. According to multiple sources, the government is emphasizing the implementation of the July Charter before the elections.
The Commission will hold a meeting with experts tomorrow, Sunday morning. The commission will meet again with political parties in the afternoon to discuss ways to implement the July Charter. Sources say it may be held on Monday as well.
When asked, commission vice-chairman Professor Ali Riaz said that progress has been made in implementing the July Charter. The government has started implementing some of its recommendations. The political parties have received clear support for implementing some issues through ordinances and executive orders through the commission meeting. Therefore, the government will be able to move forward quickly in implementing the charter.
