The National Citizen Party (NCP) on Tuesday protested the abrupt publication of the draft version of the July Charter, alleging that it was released without prior discussion on decision-making procedures.
Speaking to reporters during a break in the second phase of the 21-day political dialogue at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, NCP joint convener Javed Rasin said the Commission had proposed six different methods for reaching decisions, but none of them were discussed before the draft was made public.
“We strongly oppose this,” Rasin said. “There has been no discussion on the procedures of decision-making, yet a draft has been released. We cannot accept this.”
He added that the NCP would not decide on signing the July Charter until the party consults internally, insisting that core reforms must be implemented to dismantle what he described as a ‘fascist structure’.
“Our position is clear: decisions must be reached through discussion and consensus. If something is imposed unilaterally, we will not accept it,” he said.
The NCP also demanded that any consensus reached in the dialogue process must be implemented through a legal framework ahead of the upcoming national election. “The next election must be held on the basis of that legal foundation,” Rasin said.
Regarding the caretaker government issue, Rasin noted that discussions were ongoing around a proposal to adopt a ranked choice voting system. Under this proposal, two additional members from the judiciary would be added to form a seven-member caretaker committee empowered to make decisions by vote.
“We have agreed to this model,” he said, claiming that most parties have also signalled agreement, except for the BNP and its allied groups.
Tuesday’s session covered a wide range of constitutional and structural reform proposals, including a consolidated plan for the caretaker government, new suggestions on women’s parliamentary representation, and reforms to the appointment processes of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and the Ombudsman.
Participants also reviewed proposals related to the state’s fundamental principles, a bicameral parliamentary system, the presidential election mechanism, the president’s powers and responsibilities, and expanded guarantees of citizens’ rights.
Representatives from 30 political parties and alliances, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and NCP, attended the session.
The meeting was moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider. Commission members present included Soffor Raj Hossain, Justice Emdadul Haque, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, and Dr Ayub Miah.