AFTER a long wait, the National Consensus Commission on Tuesday officially handed over its recommendations on ways to implement the July National Charter to Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus.
These recommendations are an important step towards political reform and stability in the country, which is an aspiration of the people after the July Uprising.
The commission has prepared recommendations for implementation of the charter in consultation with political parties and experts, which highlights the importance of building consensus in the country’s politics.
In fact, these recommendations will pave the way for the implementation of the July National Charter, which proposes reforms in the constitution and other areas, with the main objective of establishing an accountable, democratic, and people-oriented state.
The recommendations also state that the government will issue an order based on the July Uprising to implement the charter, which will be called the ‘July National Charter (Constitutional Amendment) Implementation Order, 2025’. A referendum will be held to give the charter its final legal basis.
However, the process is not without challenges. The recommendations include a proposal to enact legislation to hold a referendum, which has already sparked political debate in some quarters.
Some analysts believe that such a decision could create political tension in the country. Some parties have also accused the government of adding new things to the recommendations outside the signed charter.
Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said the recommendations made by the National Consensus Commission on the implementation of the July Charter are “one-sided” and imposed on the nation.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and seven other parties yesterday urged the Election Commission to hold a referendum by November to give legal basis to the July Charter.
In this situation, the interim government will need great patience and discretion.
The parties must ensure that the process of implementing the recommendations is inclusive and that no party feels cornered.
The commission was formed to build consensus among the political parties, so that the implementation of the charter should not deviate from that goal.
The implementation of the July National Charter is not just a legal process; it is a reflection of the nation’s commitment to democratic values and good governance.
The interim government should review the commission’s recommendations based on national interest and broader consensus and choosing the most acceptable and stable path.
This politics must reach its desired destination through dialogue, not conflict. The nation is now looking forward to that historic moment. It is hoped that this charter, if fully implemented, will usher in a new day.
