The National Consensus Commission is working to finalise the July Charter by the end of this month through ongoing discussions with political parties, Vice-Chair Professor Ali Riaz announced on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Foreign Service Academy during the opening of the second phase of political talks, Riaz emphasised that, while complete agreement on all issues may not be possible, all parties must approach the dialogue with a spirit of compromise.
The formal negotiations, which began Tuesday following pre-Eid informal consultations, involve representatives from 30 political organisations including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the National Citizen Party. Critical constitutional and governance reforms dominate the agenda, particularly potential amendments to Article 70 of the Constitution, enhancing women’s parliamentary representation, restructuring the process for nominating standing committee chairpersons, establishing a bicameral legislature system, and reforming the Chief Justice appointment procedure.
Riaz confirmed the commission has allocated three consecutive days for intensive discussions, with readiness to extend talks through weekends if political parties agree.
This multi-phase dialogue initiative aims to build consensus on fundamental political reforms, with the proposed July Charter expected to provide a foundational framework for Bangladesh’s democratic development. The proposed ‘July Charter’ is expected to serve as a foundational framework for future reforms.