Political parties to sign ‘July Charter’ soon: Chief Adviser

Chief Adviser of the interim government Dr Muhammad Yunus has expressed hope that the country’s political parties will soon sign the ‘July Charter’ outlining the key issues of constitutional and political reforms.

He said the main aim of these reforms is to ensure that no dictator can rise to power in Bangladesh again.

Dr Yunus made the remarks on Wednesday, September 24, during a meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Later, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar, briefed the media on the meeting.

The two leaders discussed Bangladesh’s upcoming national election, the reform measures taken by the interim government, Pakistan’s devastating floods, bilateral trade and investment, and ways to enhance regional cooperation.

Dr Yunus expressed deep sorrow and sympathy over the loss of more than a thousand lives in the recent floods in Pakistan. Shehbaz Sharif, in turn, pointed to the growing impacts of climate change as the reason behind the increasing frequency and intensity of such disasters.

The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh is on course to hold its national election in February. He expressed hope that the 11 major reforms proposed by the National Commission will open a new horizon of political transformation. Discussions between the National Consensus Commission and political parties are now at the final stage.

Dr Yunus said political parties will soon sign the ‘July Charter’ to affirm their commitment to the constitutional and political reforms.

With SAARC practically inactive, the meeting also touched on alternative approaches to regional cooperation. During the discussion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Dr Yunus to visit Islamabad before the end of the interim government’s tenure.

National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser Siraj Uddin Mia, and Chief Coordinator (SDGs) Lamia Morshed were also present.