After much deliberation, Jamaat and its allies finally attended the signing of the July Charter on Friday at a grand event in the Parliament South Plaza. To bring them on board, the government assured them of providing a legal foundation for the implementation of the charter.
Multiple sources and party leaders have confirmed that the National Consensus Commission (NCC), after extensive discussions on Thursday night, successfully gained the trust of Jamaat and Islamic Andolan leaders.
The decision to sign the charter also came after these parties realised that failing to sign it could lead to a crisis, particularly the potential disruption of the 13th parliamentary polls. They considered the negative consequences that could arise, thus choosing to sign the document.
However, Jamaat and its allies are not letting go of their demands for a legal basis and a referendum for the charter’s implementation. These parties have made it clear that they will continue to mobilise movements to push for the implementation of their demands, particularly regarding the proportional representation (PR) system.
Gazi Ataur Rahman, senior joint secretary-general of Islamic Andolan, told TIMES of Bangladesh, “If we do not sign the charter and a crisis arises that delays the polls, we would have to shoulder the responsibilities.
“Despite many of our demands not being met, we still trust the government. However, we will also remain active in the field to push for the implementation of the charter.”
Different parties remained firm
Sources say that, even at the last moment, different parties remained firm in their respective positions regarding the legal framework and the implementation of the PR system. The BNP had submitted a “note of dissent” on the PR system and insisted on holding a referendum and national elections on the same day.
On the other hand, Jamaat and its allies – the seven like-minded parties – were at odds with the BNP’s stance. While they attended the signing ceremony, they declared they would not sign until they were assured of the implementation process.
Efforts to convince NCP unsuccessful
Meanwhile, efforts to bring the National Citizen Party (NCP) to the signing ceremony were unsuccessful. The party had previously boycotted the event due to the government’s failure to provide a legal framework for the charter.
Following this, two members of the National Consensus Commission intensified communication with the NCP. The commission recognised that without resolving the issue, there would be questions regarding the formation of the NCC. Specifically, the commission was concerned that if Jamaat refused to sign the charter, it would create further complications.
Eventually, on Thursday night, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider informally contacted the leaders of Jamaat, NCP, and Islamic Andolan. NCC Vice-President Dr Ali Riaz supervised the process.
Jamaat on board
On that night, Jamaat was brought on board after the government clarified its position regarding the issuance of the “July Charter Implementation Order”, which would provide the legal foundation for the charter.
The NCC members assured Jamaat that the referendum date would also be specified in the order.
According to sources, while these promises have been made, Jamaat and its allies remain cautious and do not fully trust the government. They signed the charter but will continue to push for the implementation of their demands through joint movements in the coming days.
Aside from the government’s promises, Jamaat is also focusing on the upcoming parliamentary polls, with plans to make a significant impact. Jamaat’s student organisation, Islami Chhatra Shibir, has already achieved landslide victories in student council elections at four public universities, which has bolstered the party’s strength. Moreover, the party has supporters in the administration as well.
As a result, Jamaat is determined to avoid any crises that could delay the national polls.
NCP politically isolated
The NCP had hoped other parties would join them in boycotting the July Charter signing ceremony, but they instead became politically isolated.
Even though the NCP chose not to sign the July Charter, a section of the July fighters barged in and created chaos at the venue. Many are blaming the NCP for the unrest that gripped Dhaka on Friday.
However, NCP leaders have denied these accusations, calling them baseless, and stating that the “July fighter’s” demands are legitimate. To address these concerns, the National Consensus Commission made an amendment to Clause 5 of the charter’s declaration.
