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Published : 12 Sep 2025, 12:42 AM
Political parties have failed to reach a consensus on how to implement 19 core reforms proposed by the National Consensus Commission, which would require constitutional amendments.
The BNP and several parties have suggested incorporating commitments into election manifestos to implement reforms.
Others, such as Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), have pressed for referendum or special constitutional orders.
The differences were laid out on Thursday after discussions between the National Consensus Commission and political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
After the mass uprising that toppled the Awami League government, the interim administration took initiatives to carry out state reforms to ensure democratic transition.
A total of 11 reform commissions were formed in two phases, which submitted their recommendations to Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.
The National Consensus Commission held two rounds of dialogue with political parties on 162 key recommendations from the reform commissions, covering the Constitution, electoral system, judiciary, public administration, and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Areas where parties have reached agreement are being compiled into the July National Charter, which contains seven pledges. Political parties are expected to sign this Charter as a formal commitment.
On Thursday, the commission said it had sent the final draft of the Charter to all political parties, asking that each party submit the names of two signatories by Saturday.
The final draft notes that consensus has been reached on 84 reform proposals, some with notes of dissent.
To implement the July Charter, the commission has proposed four methods.
Two of them -- ordinances and executive orders -- cover reforms that do not require constitutional changes and have already received support from the parties.
The remaining two proposals, referendum and special constitutional order, remain points of contention.
Speaking at a press conference, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the reforms that do not touch the Constitution could be implemented through ordinances and executive orders.
“Written and oral opinions on this matter have always been provided, and other parties have expressed similar views,” he said. “The 19 fundamental issues requiring constitutional amendments were discussed in the commission’s meeting, and everyone gave their views.”
He added, “Any immediately implementable recommendations in the July Charter are under execution and can be fully implemented by the current interim government through ordinances, executive orders, office orders, or any other legal process.
“As for those reforms which are not immediately enforceable but possible to implement, the current government may initiate or even complete the process. If unfinished, the next elected government should carry it forward.”
Salahuddin said political parties would commit to implementing all recommendations of the July Charter by including them in their election manifestos. Those who gain a mandate and enter parliament would be bound to carry them out.
The BNP’s senior leader added that issues requiring constitutional amendments would be signed as commitments and later implemented by the new parliament within two years of its formation.
He noted that some political parties suggested issuing temporary constitutional orders to enforce the amendments immediately, with one party also providing written advice on this.
“Before taking any decision on constitutional amendments, we discussed the matter to ensure a correct course of action and provided our views,” he said.
Bazlur Rashid Firoz, general secretary of the Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BaSaD), also pointed to parliament as the place to implement reforms requiring constitutional amendments.
He said there were different views on the matter, including referendum, Constituent Assembly, or special constitutional orders.
“Issues relating to the Constitution must be implemented according to the amendment procedures described in the Constitution through the next elected legislature,” Bazlur said.
Masud Rana, chief coordinator of the BaSaD (Marxist), said it was possible to find a path within the current Constitution.
“If we look for alternative ways or try to invent new paths, it may undermine the progress we have already made.”
The Jamaat-e-Islami favoured implementing the 19 fundamental reforms through either a special constitutional order or a referendum.
Lawyer Shishir Manir, a Jamaat representative, told the meeting that provisions conflicting with the Constitution should be given precedence through a special constitutional order, while the rest would remain as they are.
“Since 57 out of 153 articles have already become ineffective after the mass uprising, we suggested issuing a new constitutional order to make the July Charter effective from the 5th of August by giving special constitutional law supremacy over the existing Constitution,” he said.
The party’s deputy chief Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said, “We have kept referendum as an alternative option. If the July Charter cannot be implemented through a special constitutional order, it should go to a referendum.”
The NCP did not see any complexity in holding a Constituent Assembly election and drafting a new Constitution to implement the “necessary” amendments.
Akhtar Hossain, the party’s member secretary, said: “Our demand for a Constituent Assembly election and a new Constitution is not a complex issue, but rather a matter of political decision. If political parties agree, preparations can be made to hold the election in December instead of February. That is why we do not consider it a difficult or unrealistic decision. It is fully possible at any time depending on political will.”
He added, “The question is whether this will create obstacles that disrupt the implementation process of the July Charter. That doubt and suspicion have arisen among us.”
He also criticised what he described as the “looseness” of the Consensus Commission in handling the process.
