July Charter Implementation: Commission awaits last-minute political consensus

The National Consensus Commission is scheduled to meet political parties October 5 in what could be a decisive sitting to settle how the July Charter will be implemented.

With little progress made since the last adjourned meeting in September, the Commission is banking on last-minute consensus before its tenure ends on October 15.

The Commission had earlier adjourned its September meeting, urging parties to continue informal talks in the meantime.

It remains hopeful that the political leadership will find common ground before its mandate expires.

Commission member Badiul Alam Majumdar told The Financial Express that the upcoming meeting would provide clarity. "We will formally learn from the political parties about the progress they have made during their informal discussions," he said.

Majumdar noted that while parties have stayed in touch individually, no tangible breakthrough has yet emerged.

Instead, divisions appear to be widening as parties prioritise their own political agendas, particularly around implementing the July Charter and holding the next general election.

"We are encouraged to see parties talking to one another, even with their rivals, after such a long pause. This in itself is a positive step," Majumdar observed.

"However, no concrete agreements have been reached yet. We hope the next meeting will bring clarity on the political compromises made."

The Commission, which has already received two extensions from the government, remains determined to conclude its work within the current timeframe.

Its recommendations for implementing the Charter include issuing a "constitutional order" to be ratified through a referendum, held simultaneously with the next parliamentary election.

Some political parties, including the BNP, have suggested seeking guidance from the Supreme Court under Article 106 of the Constitution, while Jamaat has backed the constitutional order approach proposed by the Commission.

Despite the Commission's efforts, disagreements continue to mount, particularly over the electoral system.

BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed dismissed calls for a proportional representation (PR) system, remarking that his party "only understands PR as public relations."

While organising the national election does not fall under the Commission's mandate, the dispute over electoral rules has nonetheless deepened political rifts, slowing progress towards a settlement.

Even so, Majumdar remains cautiously optimistic. "For the sake of democracy, we hope parties will act responsibly and reach consensus in the final days," he said.

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