Cloud hangs over the signing of July charter

Uncertainty looms over the signing of the July charter, slated for tomorrow, as parties are still at odds over its implementation mechanisms and the timing of the proposed referendum.

At an emergency meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday evening, the major political parties reiterated their firm but conflicting stances on how the charter should be implemented.

The BNP called for the referendum to be held concurrently with the national elections, expected in early February, and said it was ready to sign the charter.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami insisted that the referendum be held next month. It added that it would notify whether it would sign the charter tomorrow, the day the charter is scheduled to be signed.

NCP said it would consider signing the charter only once the implementation pathways and the issue of notes of dissent were clarified.

Four left-leaning parties said they would not sign, citing concerns, including the proposed reforms not upholding the 1972 constitution's four foundational principles -- nationalism, socialism, democracy, and secularism.

At the meeting, convened by the National Consensus Commission and attended by 30 parties, Yunus said the consensus reached in the July charter would be inscribed "in red letters" in the history of Bangladesh and would also stand as a landmark in global political history. He proposed that "the pens used by party leaders to sign the charter be preserved as symbolic artefacts."

The chief adviser expressed optimism that the signing ceremony of the "July National Charter 2025" would become an occasion for national celebration. "You [the parties] have made what seemed impossible possible. We'll join the ceremony on Friday in a festive mood and sign it. The nation will remember everyone's contributions with due respect."

You have made what seemed impossible possible. We will join the ceremony on Friday in a festive mood and sign it.

— Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus

He also said the next national election would be held in a festive manner and that all necessary measures would be taken to ensure it.

The emergency meeting was convened a day after the commission sent the final copy of the July charter to political parties.

The copy, however, did not outline any implementation process. The commission stated that its recommendations on implementation would be submitted to the government only after the charter is signed on Friday.

After two rounds of discussions with the parties, the commission drafted 84 proposals, half of which involved constitutional reforms.

The BNP and its like-minded parties issued notes of dissent on at least nine issues.

WHAT THE PARTIES SAID

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed said the polls are only four months away and the election schedule must be announced at least two months ahead.

"Within the remaining month and a half or two, how realistic is it in Bangladesh's context to arrange another large-scale event like a referendum … one as big as the national election?"

He said his party believes that those who want the referendum before the polls have the right to do so, "but everyone should consider how logical it is."

"We believe this might even be an attempt to delay the election," he added.

About the notes of dissent, he said that if all the proposals had been agreed upon, there would have been no need for such lengthy discussions.

On unresolved issues, Salahuddin turned to Yunus and said, "Chief Adviser, you can announce your decision today. We will always respect it."

Noting that there was no alternative to polls in February, he said the BNP supports the chief adviser, but "that support is not limitless."

"We want a historic election under your leadership … that is our condition. Our support for you is not endless; we have our limits. You have formed a cabinet committee at the Secretariat for transfers and postings ... It is neither a tradition nor a rule. We are expressing our dissatisfaction."

The BNP leader said his party wants the chief adviser to maintain good relations with the defence forces. "He must try to maintain balance among all organs of the state.

"We do not want any kind of imbalance within the defence forces. We cannot afford that right now. The fallen autocrats and their allies are lying in wait to exploit any opportunity. We must not be too extreme or revolutionary."

Asked whether Jamaat would sign the charter, its Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher told reporters, "That will be known on the day of the signing ceremony."

The referendum would lose its importance if held on the same day as the election, he said, speaking to reporters after the meeting.

At the meeting, Motiur Rahman Akand, Jamaat central executive committee member, said, "Our position is that the referendum should be held by November to give the July charter a legal foundation, and subsequent actions should be based on that."

NCP Member-Secretary Akhter Hossen told the meeting that some last-minute issues had raised concerns.

"The July charter draft does not clearly address the points that have notes of dissent."

These and the roadmap for implementation must be clarified.

"We have proposed that the implementation be carried out through a special order."

He suggested calling it the "July Charter Implementation Order" or the "Constitutional Reform Order."

Akhter said, "We believe this order should be issued by the chief adviser in his capacity as head of the government. It is not a matter for the head of state but for the head of government to implement and issue the order.

"Regarding the referendum, the date and timing must be made clear to us and the nation. Political parties have agreed that fundamental constitutional changes cannot be sustained through mere amendments. To ensure the sustainability of these reforms, elected representatives, who will become members of parliament and hold constituent power, must be clearly empowered."

Left-leaning parties -- Communist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Basod), Bangladesh JSD, and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist) -- said they would not sign.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Basod General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz said, "We will not sign the July charter because the history of the Liberation War and independence is not reflected in its background."

He also said explanations of the notes of dissent submitted by the four parties were not included in the charter.

"We objected to several provisions of the July charter, particularly the clause barring any legal challenge to it. For that reason, we have decided not to sign."

Gono Forum warned it would not sign the charter if the Declaration of Independence issued by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 26, 1971, and the Mujibnagar Government's Proclamation of Independence on April 10, 1971 -- the sixth and seventh schedules of the constitution respectively -- were dropped.