Envisioned as a blueprint to transform the nation’s democratic path, the July charter has instead become a point of contention deepening the political divide. Political parties are at odds over the charter’s implementation, the timing of a referendum, and the fate of dissenting notes included in the charter.
BNP has issued a warning, stating that it will not accept any alterations beyond the charter, emphasizing the importance of retaining the dissenting notes. In contrast, other major parties such as Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP advocate for excluding the dissenting notes from the referendum.
While the July National Charter allows parties to decide whether to act on their dissenting notes if they secure the people’s mandate, the consensus commission omitted the dissenting notes when submitting recommendations for implementation. BNP and other parties had raised dissenting notes on various issues during the consensus talks.
BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the signed charter, highlighting the inclusion of dissenting notes from different political entities. The consensus commission proposed two alternatives for the referendum question, both focusing on whether voters agree with 48 proposals for constitutional changes, without mentioning the dissenting notes.
Commission member Badiul Alam Majumdar explained that the decision to exclude the dissenting notes during the referendum was based on majority views expressed during discussions. He emphasized the need to present only decisions to the public during the referendum.
Regarding specific dissenting points, BNP and its allies disagreed with a proposal for an upper house based on proportional representation of votes, preferring an upper house based on each party’s lower house seat share. BNP also opposed the requirement for the upper house to vote on constitutional amendments, citing the lack of direct election of upper house representatives.
The parties generally agreed on certain issues, such as lawmakers voting across party lines with exceptions for specific matters. Additionally, the consensus outlined a process for selecting a chief adviser for a caretaker government, involving a panel comprising representatives from various political entities.
Different parties expressed dissent on various issues, including the appointment of the chiefs of key commissions and the process for appointing judges and officials to important institutions. BNP, in particular, raised objections to several appointment processes outlined in the charter.
In terms of implementation, Jamaat and NCP support an implementation order to provide legal recognition to the charter, with NCP advocating for the chief adviser to issue the order. However, BNP opposes the idea of a constitutional order for charter implementation.
Regarding the referendum timing, BNP pushes for simultaneous national election and referendum dates, while Jamaat calls for the referendum to precede the polls. Jamaat and allied parties have initiated street protests demanding a November referendum date.