National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz has said the July Charter will be implemented within the commission’s extended tenure. The government recently extended the mandate of the commission until October 15.
Speaking at the commission’s meeting at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Wednesday, Ali Riaz said, “Experts have already given recommendations to accelerate the implementation of the July Charter. It will not take a month. I hope we will see a conclusion soon.”
He added that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, as head of the commission, has been kept fully informed of developments.
“Before he departs for the United Nations General Assembly on September 21, he will be briefed in detail on the progress of the charter’s implementation,” he said.
The commission has already sent the final draft of the charter to political parties for review. “Parties have shared six suggestions. Some have called for a special constitutional order or referendum, while others prefer placing it before parliament,” Ali Riaz said.
He explained that the expert panel has given a clear recommendation, and the commission has urged the government to act quickly on matters that can be resolved through ordinance or executive order.
“On constitutional matters, the panel advised considering both referendum and special constitutional order. The government will be able to assess which steps are most feasible after weighing legal and political implications,” he added.
Regarding party endorsement, Ali Riaz said that each political party was asked to submit names of two representatives to sign the charter, and most have complied. “The government will take necessary legal steps in this regard,” he said.
The third round of discussions was attended by representatives of 30 political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Gono Sanghati Andolon, and Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB).
