The National Consensus Commission (NCC), tasked with state reforms, continues to adjust its strategy in the face of mounting political divisions. Determined to keep dialogue alive, the commission plans to sit with political parties again this week, hoping to finalize a framework of consensus. Informal meetings are being given the highest priority before any formal decisions are made.
According to sources close to the commission, informal discussions have already taken place with the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, while a meeting with the Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) is also on the agenda.
Meanwhile, the term of the commission is going to end on September 15. A special assistant to the chief adviser of the state minister rank involved in the policymaking of the interim government told Bangladesh Pratidin that the term of the NCC is increasing further. Because they are working continuously on the July Charter. This requires time. As part of the strategy, the commission has already included many issues in the draft July Charter without discussing with the parties. There have also been mixed reactions from the political parties on this.
On the other hand, the commission has already completed taking written opinions from political parties on the draft charter. Their strategy was to be flexible on several issues. But the political parties have reiterated their intransigence on fundamental issues. They have also put pressure on the commission on the way to implement the charter.
The parties concerned said that the differences between the parties on some of the fundamental issues of the July Charter of constitutional and political reforms have not yet been resolved. The dominant parties are divided on the question of whether the elected parliament will implement the July Charter or whether it will be implemented with a legal basis before the elections. BNP wants to leave it for the elected parliament without giving it any legal basis.
The July declaration issued by the interim government on the anniversary of the mass uprising also states that the elected parliament will implement the charter of reforms. The main dispute between BNP and Jamaat and the NCP is over whether to provide a legal basis for the implementation of the July Charter.
Various religious parties including Jamaat-e-Islami and the student leadership party of the Mass Uprising, NCP, have taken a firm stand demanding the implementation of the July Charter with a legal basis before the elections.
In addition, the drafts have been given to the parties with the objections or notes of dissent of the BNP on some basic issues including the formation of the NCC and the proportional representation or PR system in the upper house of parliament.
There has been no change in the BNP's position on these issues. Various parties including Jamaat and NCP have taken opposing positions as a strategy to create political pressure on BNP. However, various Islamist parties including Jamaat are threatening to take up the demand for the PR system and take up the movement program.
Regarding the draft charter, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said that although some issues were not discussed, they have been included in the July Charter. Apart from this, some issues have not been presented properly.
He said that although the previous charter stated that the elected parliament would implement the July Charter within the next two years, it is not in the new charter. “In addition, in the context of the second round of talks, the charter has been placed above the constitution in the pledge. However, no document can be above the constitution. If the charter is placed above the constitution, it will be a bad precedent for the future. It has been said that the July charter cannot be questioned, this is also not correct.”
Jamaat-e-Islami has also taken a stand against BNP on the July national charter. The party has sought the primacy of the charter over the constitution. The party has also supported the pledge that the charter cannot be questioned in court. They have asked the consensus commission for a list of reform proposals that can be implemented before the elections.
Jamaat's Naib-e-Amir Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher told the media that there are differences in the charter from what was said in the commission's dialogue. Jamaat has wanted to know why this happened.
A new constitution needs to be formulated through the Constituent Assembly elections for the sustainable implementation of the July Charter, said National Citizens Party (NCP) member secretary Akhtar Hossain.
He said, “In all the places that need to be changed, more than 60-70 percent of the current constitution will have to be changed. Such a big change is also equivalent to rewriting the constitution. When we have to write from beginning to end, introducing a new constitution creates a foggy place, why many see obstacles there.”
24 political parties have submitted written opinions on the final draft proposal of the July National Charter to the NCC by the scheduled August 22. Most of the parties have demanded the next thirteenth National Parliament election based on the July National Charter.
Those concerned said that in the initial reaction, most of the parties have demanded the legal basis and specific implementation method of the July Charter. Different parties have expressed their differences on some issues and have given 'notes of dissent' (objections), and there have also been disappointments and demands for amendments over the absence of a deadline.
However, the overall reaction of the political parties was mixed. The political parties considered the July Charter to be generally acceptable, although they demanded amendments and discussions on three main issues - legal clarity in the draft, lack of time frame and differences in various proposals.
Regarding the renewed talks with the political parties this week, the vice-chairman of the commission, Professor Ali Riaz, told Bangladesh Pratidin that an attempt will be made to reach a compromise on the unresolved issues in the talks. But it will depend on the positive cooperation of the political parties.
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
