Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission (NCC) Professor Ali Riaz has stated that a consolidated recommendation has been received from experts regarding the implementation of the constitution-related recommendations of the July National Charter 2025.
They have integrated their two previously proposed alternatives – “referendum” and “constitutional order” – into a final opinion at this stage. In it, they stated that the constitution-related recommendations of the July Charter can be implemented by issuing a “constitutional order” in accordance with the 22-point July Declaration, and that the said “constitutional order” can receive final approval from the people through a referendum.
The matter of holding the proposed referendum will be mentioned in the described constitutional order, and the referendum will be held on the same day as the next national parliamentary election.
Professor Ali Riaz shared this information while briefing journalists on Wednesday in Dhaka at the Foreign Service Academy, after the third day of discussions between the National Consensus Commission and political parties on ways to implement the July Charter.
At that time, he said that this could be one of the recommendations the Commission will present to the government as a possible way to implement the July Charter.
Among the commission members present during the briefing were Justice Md Emdadul Haque, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr Md. Ayub Mia, and Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haider.
Ali Riaz mentioned that the experts’ advice has been communicated to the political parties on Wednesday. He added that several political parties have also expressed opinions on seeking advice from the Supreme Court using Article 106 of the Constitution, though there are differing views.
At this time, he also expressed optimism that the political parties would reach a minimal consensus through discussions among themselves regarding the implementation of the July Charter.
In today’s discussions with the National Consensus Commission, representatives from 30 political parties participated, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Ganasamhati Andolon, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Biplobi Workers’ Party, and Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party.
