The future of July Charter appears increasingly uncertain as the National Consensus Commission (NCC) faces three critical challenges: compiling a complete charter with notes of dissent, securing signatures from participating political parties, and determining how to implement the agreed reforms.
Several political leaders have expressed growing skepticism over the charter’s prospects, citing deep divisions and mounting dissatisfaction among political groups.
One side includes the BNP, another includes the Jamaat and the National Citizens Party (NCP), and the other includes the left wing and Islamist parties.
According to the leaders of some political parties, the National Consensus Commission has cleverly created division instead of unity. It has given political parties the issue of taking to the streets in the coming days. Some parties have given a message of another revolution. Overall, a kind of disappointment and uncertainty has been created around the July Charter.
The NCC claims that out of 19 issues discussed during 23 sessions with 30 political entities, consensus was reached on all. However, political parties argue that the NCC is forcing agreement on unresolved matters. Several parties have walked out of discussions or submitted notes of dissent on key proposals, questioning the validity of any claim of consensus.
Several questions from some political parties include - how is consensus then reached on those issues? The 19 issues discussed include - Article 70 of the Constitution, Chairmanship of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, Delimitation of Constituencies, Provisions on Presidential Pardon, Decentralization of Judiciary-(a), Decentralization of Supreme Court (b), Expansion of Subordinate Courts at Upazila Level, Declaration of Emergency, Appointment of Chief Justice, Amendment of the Constitution, Provisions on the Prime Minister holding multiple posts, Provisions on the Election Commission, Public Service Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, Auditor General and Comptroller and Ombudsman, Term of Office of the Prime Minister, Proposals on the Formation of Police Commission, Women's Representation in Parliament (Increase in Number, Election Procedure, etc.), Bicameral Parliament (Formation of Upper House, Method of Election of Members, Jurisdiction, etc.), Presidential Election Procedure, Electoral College, etc., Powers and Responsibilities of the President Article 48/3, Caretaker Government, Proposals on the Expansion of Fundamental Rights of Citizens and Principles of the State.
BNP, in particular, has submitted formal notes of dissent on 10 of the 19 topics.
On the issue of holding multiple posts of the Prime Minister, three-fourths of the parties and alliances agreed that the same person cannot be the Prime Minister and the party leader. Several parties, including BNP, have submitted notes of dissent on this issue.
BNP submitted notes of dissent on the issue of ensuring that the provisions for the appointment of the Public Service Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Auditor General and the Ombudsman should not be added to the constitution but through necessary amendments to the relevant laws.
In addition, the Like-Minded Alliance, the 12-party alliance, the NDM and the Aam-Janata Dal have submitted notes of dissent. More than two-thirds of the parties and alliances have agreed on the formation of the upper house.
Five political parties (Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Socialist Party, Nationalist Democratic Movement, Jamiat Ulama-e Islam Bangladesh, Aam Janata Dal) have given notes of dissent on the establishment of the upper house.
While all other parties agree on the presidential election system, Islami Andolan Bangladesh has given notes of dissent.
On the proposal raised by the Commission on the powers and responsibilities of the President, BNP, Nationalist Like-minded Party, Jamiat Ulama-e Islam, Bangladesh Labor Party, Liberal Democratic Party and Nationalist Democratic Movement have given notes of dissent on numbers 5 and 6, and Nagorik Oikya has given notes of dissent on numbers 5 and 6.
On the caretaker government, several parties and alliances, including BNP, have given notes of dissent on numbers 8, 9, 11 and 12 of the joint proposal raised by the Commission based on the proposals of various political parties.
The Gono Forum, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), BSD, Bangladesh JSD, Communist Party of Bangladesh and JSD have all given notes of dissent and boycotted the dialogue on the latest fundamental principles of state governance. Out of these, the highest number of notes of dissent has been given on women's representation.
The commission said that there is a consensus that women's representation in the National Parliament will be gradually increased to 100 seats. However, some parties are in favor of elections through direct elections and some parties are in favor of elections to reserved seats for women through the proportional representation (PR) system.
Since there was no clear consensus in the discussions, the commission was allowed to decide on a few issues. In this context, the commission made decisions on the caretaker government, the upper house and state principles. The political parties reacted to the commission's decision in various ways.
Towards the end of the dialogue, questions were raised by the parties about the process of implementing the July Charter. The political parties are making various comments about the process or basis on which the charter will be implemented.
Like-minded parties including Jamaat and NCP are now seeking a legal basis for the July Charter. They said that the July Charter will be prepared on the issues on which there is consensus and we are supposed to sign it. But on what basis will we sign it.
On the other hand, BNP and like-minded parties are opposing it. This question was raised by the political parties participating in the dialogue to the NCC. But the commission could not give a clear answer on this issue.
Jamaat Naib-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said that the reform proposals will not be implementable if they do not have a legal basis.
He said, “It will have no value to the people. What is the benefit of signing such a proposal?”
NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain said that if we cannot bring the July Charter to a legal basis, then the July Charter will be just a historical document like the previous three-party outline (the events of 1991). Which will have no place for effectiveness.
“We do not want an ineffective, incomplete July Charter without fundamental reforms,” he added.
On the other hand, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said, “BNP will sign the full charter if it receives it. The next National Parliament will be the place to implement the July Charter. Various reform proposals will become effective at the present time through various ordinances.”
NCC Vice-Chairman Professor Ali Riaz told Bangladesh Pratidin, “We are moving forward step by step. The future will tell what the path ahead will be. How will it be. How will we move forward.”
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
