Desk Report,
3 parties object to July charter draft, BNP largely agrees
Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) and Islami Andolan Bangladesh have expressed their objections to the draft of the July National Charter. The main objection is to the fact that the reform proposals included in the charter will be implemented within two years of forming the government through elections. The parties say that the July Charter must be brought into a legal framework and guaranteed to be implemented. Otherwise, the entire reform process will be plunged into uncertainty. However, BNP is broadly in agreement with the draft.
3 parties object to July charter draft, BNP largely agrees
On Tuesday, during the discussions of the Consensus Commission with the parties at the Foreign Service Academy, several parties reacted to the draft of the charter to journalists. The Consensus Commission has asked the parties to formally express their opinions on the draft by Wednesday afternoon.
The National Consensus Commission wants to finalize the July Charter by completing the second phase of discussions by tomorrow, Thursday. However, the commission’s discussions with the political parties to build a consensus have not yet ended. Yesterday, discussions were held on the outline of the caretaker government, women’s seats in parliament, the appointment of the Auditor General and Controller and Ombudsman in the constitution. However, there was no consensus on these issues yesterday either. Of the 20 basic reform proposals on the agenda for the second phase, there is still no consensus on 8 proposals. Although the discussions are not over, the Consensus Commission gave a draft of the National Charter to the parties last Monday. The draft states that the political parties will pledge to complete the reform proposals included in the National Charter within two years of the formation of the government through the next national election. It is said to make a total of seven commitments.
The National Charter will be prepared with the proposals of the six reform commissions that the political parties agree on to bring about reforms in various sectors of the state. However, the draft did not mention which issues have been agreed upon. The issues will be included in the charter after the Consensus Commission’s discussions with the parties are completely completed.
Parties’ statements on the draft
Some parts of the charter are ‘dangerous’, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Naib-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said. Yesterday, he told reporters that they are in favor of giving legal validity to this charter in any one of the methods. If it is not brought into a legal framework, the country’s political future may move towards uncertainty. There must be a legal basis for implementing the issues on which consensus is being reached. According to him, it can be done in two ways. Forming a legal framework through an ordinance and later approving it in the elected parliament or seeking the final approval of the people through a referendum. He also said that Jamaat-e-Islami will submit a draft of the July charter to the consensus commission.
* There was no consensus on the caretaker government and women’s seats. * Discussions again today. * Opinions on the draft should be expressed today itself.
Stating that the draft is being reviewed party-wise, NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain told reporters, ‘We want to see every aspect of fundamental reform included in this draft. If it is dropped, then a decision will be made after discussion in the party forum whether to sign it or not.’
Akhtar said that they have proposed to make a ‘Legal Framework Order’ to ensure the legal basis. At the same time, they also want an assurance that the reforms that the political parties are collectively accepting cannot be ignored by any party that comes to power later.
From the beginning, the NCP has been talking about forming a Constituent Assembly to rewrite the constitution. In this regard, Akhtar Hossain said yesterday that if the constitution is rewritten through the Constituent Assembly elections, all issues can be properly included in the constitution.
The Consensus Commission had mentioned six alternative methods for implementing the reform proposal. They have not been discussed yet. Referring to this, NCP joint convener Javed Rasin told reporters, ‘We strongly oppose it. There has been no discussion on the method of discussion, yet they have published the draft. We cannot accept this.’
The Islamic Movement Bangladesh has called the draft of the July Charter a weak presentation without legal obligations. The party’s Secretary General Maulana Yunus Ahmed gave this reaction at the party’s regular meeting yesterday.
The Islamic Movement’s press release said that the name of Sheikh Hasina, the main mastermind of fallen fascism and the head of the evil cycle, was not mentioned even once in the draft. The main demand for the July Charter was its legal status and obligations. But the draft charter did not say anything about this. As a result, the charter does not seem to have any significance.
On the other hand, the BNP is broadly in agreement with the draft of the Consensus Commission. Yesterday, the party’s standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters that they are broadly in agreement with the draft. BNP also agrees with the pledge. BNP will inform the commission today of their observations on the wording of the draft.
