Recommendation on Charter implementation within October, says Ali Riaz

The National Consensus Commission will submit its recommendation on how to implement the July National Charter within its tenure to the interim government after the signing ceremony.

The commission also said the government will begin the process of implementing the Charter, which includes state reform proposals and pledges, during this period by taking specific measures.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday evening amid announcements by several parties refusing to sign the Charter, the commission’s Vice-President Ali Riaz expressed hope that all parties involved in the dialogue would join the signing event in a “festive” atmosphere.

Calling on political parties to attend the ceremony, Riaz said: “Let [Friday’s] event be celebratory, while also reminding us there is still a long way ahead.”

He added that the opportunity to sign the Charter will remain open even after the event.

The signing ceremony will take place on Friday at the South Plaza of the parliament.

Outlining preparations for the event, Riaz said invitations have been sent to party leaders, as well as to representatives from different social groups.

Earlier on Wednesday, to overcome differences and remove uncertainty over the signing, the Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus -- who also chairs the Consensus Commission -- held an emergency meeting with leaders of political parties and alliances.

The meeting, which lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes, again saw disagreements over how to implement the Charter and the timing of a public referendum before ending.

The National Citizen Party announced it would not attend the signing unless the legal basis of the Charter and the manner of granting it were clarified in advance.

At a press conference on Thursday morning at the party’s temporary office in Banglamotor, Convenor Nahid Islam made the announcement.

Later in the afternoon, a joint press conference was held by four left-leaning parties -- CPB, BaSaD, BaSaD (Marxist), and Bangladesh JaSaD -- where they declared they would not sign the Charter.

Against this backdrop, Riaz appeared at a briefing at the LD Hall of the parliament in the evening, where Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki was also present.

Thanking the parties for their cooperation in drafting the July Charter, Riaz said: “We are waiting for them to attend the signing on Friday and sign, so that we can reach a stage after a long year of efforts.”

 “This Charter is not just the fruit of one year’s work; it also partly embodies the long-standing aspirations for democracy and state reform that the people of the country have struggled for, the setbacks faced, and the hopes and expectations they have expressed,” he added.

Despite disagreements, he expressed hope that representatives of the political parties involved in the process would attend and that signing the Charter would help move the process forward.

The government is now preparing for the parliamentary polls, expected before Ramadan next February, following the signing of the Charter.

Riaz said the commission would submit its recommendations on implementing the Charter to the government within Oct 31 so that the process could begin within its tenure.

“We will present a clear, specific and comprehensive set of recommendations to the interim government,” he added. “The commission will continue its best efforts to ensure the implementation process starts properly, inclusively, and smoothly.”