The National Consensus Commission’s (NCC) final recommendations on the method of implementing the July Charter have deepened rifts among major political parties.
BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have reacted sharply — and in opposite directions — over the timing of the referendum and the withdrawal of the “notes of dissent” from the commission’s report.
After the NCC formally handed over its recommendations to the government on Tuesday, BNP said the referendum and the national election must be held on the same day. In contrast, Jamaat argued that wanting both to be held on the same day was effectively an attempt to avoid implementing the Charter.
The National Citizen Party (NCP), meanwhile, described the recommendations as “positive overall”, saying that holding the referendum before the parliamentary election would be more logical.
As such, uncertainty remains over whether the aspiration of the July Uprising — to bring about a qualitative change in politics through the implementation of the July National Charter — will be realised, amid resistance from the major political parties.
Analysts say if the government can finalise the method of implementing the Charter and hold a free and fair election, there will be a genuine opportunity to bring qualitative improvement to the country’s politics. However, doing so poses a significant challenge for the government.
Dilara Chowdhury, retired professor of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University and a political analyst, said: “The withdrawal of the notes of dissent on issues of consensus was a notable decision by the commission. However, it is not possible to hold the election and the referendum on the same day.”
She added: “There is no precedent for such an arrangement anywhere in the world. To honour the spirit of the July Uprising — achieved through the sacrifice of countless lives — the Charter must be implemented to break from old political patterns. If the BNP stands in the way, it would mean betraying the blood of the students and the people.”
The NCC submitted its report on implementing the July National Charter to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at his official residence Jamuna in the presence of other advisers and commission members.
The report contains several significant proposals, such as holding the referendum on any day between the issuance of the implementation order and the election date; forming an upper house based on proportional representation (PR) of the votes received by political parties; and omitting any mention of the note of dissent in the referendum process.
At a press conference following the handover, NCC Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz said the 84 proposals in the report were divided into three categories. Some, he said, could be implemented immediately through ordinances or executive orders.
He added that the 48 proposals related to constitutional reform were presented to the government with two alternative options.
The first option suggests that the next parliament will function as a Constitution Reform Council for the first nine months of its term while carrying out its regular duties. During this time, proposals approved in the referendum will be incorporated into the constitution.
The alternative option states that a bill containing constitutional amendments will be placed before the people in a referendum. If the referendum is endorsed, the Constitution Reform Council will ratify the proposals while maintaining their original spirit. If the next parliament cannot approve them within nine months, the amendments will be automatically incorporated into the constitution.
To legitimise the July Charter, an order will first be issued based on the July Uprising. The order will be titled “July Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order 2025.”
Under this order, a referendum ordinance will be promulgated to ensure the referendum’s legality. If the public approves it, the next parliament will have to play a dual role — both as a Constitution Reform Council and as a legislative body.
The NCC also proposed that the referendum may be held at any time between the issuance of the July National Charter Implementation Order and the national election.
Once the referendum is approved, the Constitution Reform Council will be required to form an upper house under the PR system, initiating the process within 270 days and ensuring the same mechanism continues in the following parliament through a special clause.
Following Ali Riaz’s press conference, political parties began issuing reactions.
BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said: “While drafting the recommendations, the Commission attempted to create division instead of consensus. Although some additions were made, there is no mention of the note of dissent.”
He added: “Matters that were not discussed in the National Consensus Commission cannot be imposed later. No reform council will be formed through the national election. The next parliament itself will implement the July Charter. The idea that reforms will be automatically passed if not approved within 270 days is absurd.”
On Tuesday night, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar told the Times of Bangladesh: “The referendum must be held before the national election — preferably by November. Holding the referendum and the election on the same day could lead to violence at polling centres. If voting is suspended in a few centres, what will happen to the referendum? The government should move quickly to issue the order to implement these positive recommendations.”
Meanwhile, at the BNP’s Gulshan office, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said: “There is no scope for a referendum before the national election. The BNP’s position is clear, and it will not change.”
NCP Senior Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb, on the other hand, said: “We view the NCC’s recommendations on the July Charter positively — especially the withdrawal of the note of dissent, the issuance of an implementation order under the mandate of the July Uprising, and putting the entire Charter to a yes/no referendum. Holding the referendum before the election is, we believe, the logical approach.”
Although the date for the referendum has yet to be fixed, the NCC’s recommendations reflect Jamaat and its allies’ demands, while much of what the BNP wanted has not been met. As a result, the BNP has already expressed negative reactions.
Ultimately, the government still faces a major challenge in implementing the July Charter, as the success of the upcoming national election largely depends on how effectively it navigates this issue.
