July Charter to be implemented before extended deadline: Ali Riaz

The National Consensus Commission aims to implement the July Charter before the extended deadline in its third phase, said Professor Ali Riaz, Vice-Chairman of the commission. He expressed confidence that the process will not require a full month and emphasized that expert consultations have been conducted to ensure timely progress.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the third phase with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Wednesday, Professor Riaz expressed optimism about reaching a swift conclusion.

“The commission’s chairman, the Chief Adviser, is fully informed of all developments. He is scheduled to attend the United Nations session on September 21, and will be updated on the progress of the charter’s implementation well before then,” he said.

Professor Riaz further revealed that the commission has sent the final draft of the charter’s implementation plan to the political parties, who have recommended six different measures. While some advocate enforcing the accord through a special constitutional order or a national referendum, others prefer leaving the matter to parliamentary discretion.

Experts have advised that constitutional issues be resolved via referendum and constitutional amendments, while procedural matters should be expedited through government ordinances, he added.

Political parties were requested to nominate two representatives each to sign the accord. Most parties have complied, and the commission hopes the government will take necessary legal steps to facilitate the process.

The meeting saw participation from representatives of 30 political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat, NCP, LDP, Ganadhikar Parishad, Ganasanghati Andolon, the Communist Party of Bangladesh, and Amar Bangladesh Party.

Also present as members of the commission were Justice Md. Emdadul Haque, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr. Md. Ayub Mia, and the Chief Advisor’s special assistant Monir Haider.