Bangladesh NCC to Submit Final Recommendations on July National Charter by October 10

Dhaka (The Uttam Hindu): Bangladesh’s National Consensus Commission (NCC) announced on Wednesday that it will submit its final recommendations to the interim government by October 10. These recommendations are aimed at enabling political parties to formally endorse the “July National Charter 2025” by October 16, a move seen as crucial for political stability and democratic reforms in the country.

The announcement came during the fifth NCC meeting on the implementation of the July Charter, held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka and chaired by NCC Vice-Chairman Ali Riaz. Representatives from various political parties attended the meeting.

According to United News of Bangladesh (UNB), Riaz stated, “The commission will submit its final recommendations to the government by October 10. Political parties are expected to complete formal signing of the July National Charter on October 15 and 16.”

He emphasized the importance of considering the “notes of disagreement” submitted by political parties. “Not all points of disagreement can be viewed the same way because each party has presented its perspective. These notes represent not just political interests but also broader public sentiments,” Riaz explained.

The Vice-Chairman further stressed that when public consent is sought through a referendum on the charter, it is essential that citizens are fully informed about the differing viewpoints and objections raised by various political parties. “People should know the issues on which different parties have reservations before giving their consent,” he added.

Around 30 political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and National Citizen Party (NCP), participated in the discussions, deliberating on the finalization of implementation processes for the July Charter.

The second phase of discussions between the NCC and political parties began earlier in July amid ongoing political uncertainty. Several parties, particularly Jamaat, NCP, and the Islamic Movement, had raised objections to the draft July Charter, opposing provisions that required the government formed after national elections to implement reform proposals within two years. They also demanded that the July Charter be incorporated into the legal framework rather than remaining merely a political agreement, ensuring enforceability.