NCC sends final July Charter copy to parties

The National Consensus Commission (NCC) has sent the final version of the July National Charter to political parties ahead of its signing, scheduled for October 17, Commission Vice-Chair Prof Ali Riaz confirmed to The Financial Express on Tuesday.

The commission has also made a copy of the charter available to the media. The decision to circulate the final copy was taken at a committee meeting. Unlike the draft sent in September, the current copy is being shared as a formality; parties will no longer have the option to review or amend it, as the reforms have already been agreed upon, with or without notes of dissent.

The commission will later submit recommendations on the implementation method to the interim government and the parties, though these will not be part of the July Charter.

The government had previously delayed the signing and extended the commission's tenure twice until October 15, as political parties remained divided over the referendum schedule for implementing the charter.

Major parties differed on timing: the BNP called for a referendum alongside the national election in February, while Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) wanted it held in November, prior to the election.

The commission will meet with the chief adviser after his return on Wednesday to discuss recommendations on the implementation method. A final decision is expected after this meeting, though the commission may leave the referendum timing to the government.

The charter incorporates 84 agreed reform proposals, with notes of dissent on some. It is structured in three parts: background, reform proposals, and a seven-point commitment to implement the charter.

The signing ceremony will take place at the South Plaza of the National Parliament in Dhaka, with preparations underway to host 30 political parties and around 3,000 guests. Already, 30 parties and alliances have submitted the names of their two signatories.

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