The National Consensus Commission has missed its July 31 target for completing the “July National Charter 2025,” but now plans to wrap it up by next week. Commissioners will hold fresh talks with political parties once they send the revised draft to each group, expected today or tomorrow, Dr Mohammad Ayub Miah told the Daily Sun. While the exact date for these meetings is still being set, Dr Miah said the commission is determined to finalise the charter after renewed dialogue.
Reform discussions wrapped on July 31 with agreement on many proposals, yet strong objections from Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party and Islami Andolan Bangladesh stalled the charter. In earlier phases, delegates had reached consensus on 62 of 165 proposals and unanimous support on 11 of 20 constitutional issues, leaving nine decided by majority and 25 undiscussed. In response, the NCC drafted a consolidated version that incorporates feedback and adds legal safeguards to ensure the charter’s commitments are binding.
Professor Ali Riaz, vice-chairman of the commission, said the revised draft reflects parties’ views and grants the charter special legal status. Under the new plan, the charter cannot be challenged in any court, and any conflict with the constitution or other laws will be resolved in its favour through a dedicated constitutional provision. The document is laid out in three parts: background, agreed reform proposals and specific implementation pledges.
The charter originally required reforms to be enacted within two years of the next government taking office, but that deadline has been dropped in the updated draft. The NCC, chaired by Professor Muhammad Yunus, was formed by the interim government following last year’s student uprising that toppled the previous administration. Its goal remains to build broad political consensus on fundamental reforms before the next general election.
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