Though BNP has serious objection on keeping the July Charter over the Constitution, the party believes this issue can be solved through discussions. However, the high command of the party is dead against Proportional Representation (PR) system of voing. The acting chairman of the party, Tarique Rahman, has also stated clearly that the PR system is not suitable in terms of socio-economic, geographic abd political realms of Bangladesh.
On the other hand, the party has submitted its opinion on the written draft of the July Charter submitted to the National Consensus Commission. BNP policymakers will soon hold discussions with Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus on whether or not to place the July Charter above the constitution and the PR system in the elections. The party wants to formulate, sign and implement the July Charter through discussions.
According to BNP policymakers, the people of the country are not aware of the PR system. As a result, this unreasonable PR system will never ensure the right to vote of the common people of the country. They believe that the PR system is being demanded with a completely malicious intention to disrupt or thwart the elections.
Regarding the PR system, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman said, “Many people have made different statements about the PR system in the national elections of Bangladesh because the people of the country have the right to know - who they are voting for and who is going to the parliament as their representative. But since there is no opportunity to directly elect a person in the proposed PR system, the people are not able to clearly know who they are sending to the parliament. Therefore, if a political party or individual wants to represent the National Parliament or the government, they must face the people and earn their trust and confidence. They must be elected with the people's verdict.”
On the other hand, BNP National Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has expressed hope for a fair solution to the July Charter issue.
He told The Bangladesh Pratidin, "The July Charter has three parts. One: Introduction, two: 84 points.Proposal and three: Pledge. The few sentences in the introduction are correct. And there are some inconsistencies in clause 84. We have corrected these clauses. And there are several inconsistencies in the pledge. There are three or four clauses in it that are very unreasonable. For example: giving precedence to the charter over the constitution. It is said once in it that no one will be able to raise any question about this in the future. It is said again that only the Appellate Division can decide on this. Therefore, we are hopeful that a solution will come out through discussions on this issue through “some legal or constitutional process. We expect that through discussions, the July Charter will be made, signed and implemented in a constitutional process and with legal validity within the constitution.”
According to the sources, BNP has made as much concession as needed in the interest of the national elections. The party now expects that the July Charter will be drafted, signed and implemented on the basis of national consensus. However, although there are party differences on some of the proposals in the pledge, the party believes that its legal and constitutional process can be found through discussions. The party will also present its logical views on this matter in the meeting that the Consensus Commission is planning with political parties in the future on the implementation method of the July Charter.
The source further said that a meeting of the Standing Committee was held on Monday night to thoroughly examine and analyze the fully integrated draft of the July Charter. A three-member committee including Standing Committee members Nazrul Islam Khan and Salahuddin Ahmed was formed there. The members of the Standing Committee met again on Tuesday night. The proposals given in the 'note of dissent' were also reviewed in the meeting. At that time, the members of the Standing Committee also considered the eight-point pledge of the July Charter unnecessary. The fourth clause of the pledge states that every provision, proposal and recommendation of the July Charter will be considered constitutional and legally binding. Therefore, no question can be raised in any court about its validity, necessity or authority to issue it. Some of the standing committee members expressed their opinion that this is also unacceptable. According to them, no document or papers can be above the constitution. That is, there is no room for the July Charter to be above the constitution.
BNP also held a meeting with the 12-party alliance, the Nationalist Like-Minded Alliance and the LDP on Wednesday. On Tuesday, responsible leaders held a meeting with the allies of the simultaneous movement, the Ganotantro Mancha, BJP and Gano Odhikar Parishad at the Chairperson's office in Gulshan. In the meeting, BNP advised the allies of the simultaneous movement to give the same or similar opinions on the July Charter. At the same time, it was also suggested that if the issues given in the previous 'note of dissent' during the discussion of the Consensus Commission are not included in the full draft of the charter, they should submit their opinions within the stipulated time.
(Translated by Lutful Hoque)
