July Charter Reform Talks Begin Without Jamaat, NCP as Opposition Rejects Special Committee
Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP and other opposition parties are boycotting talks on July Charter reforms, demanding a Constitutional Reform Council instead.
The Parliamentary Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment will hold a meeting today, Sunday, to consult with leaders of political parties and alliances that signed the July Charter. The meeting is scheduled for 2:30 PM at the Cabinet Room of the National Parliament. Invitations have been sent to representatives—usually the president and general secretary—of 26 parties and alliances. However, several opposition parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the NCP, have announced they will not participate.
According to committee sources, this is the committee’s second meeting, with the main agenda being a discussion on constitutional amendments with the signatories of the July Charter. Each party and alliance was asked to send two representatives to present their views on possible amendments.
The committee previously met on August 4, where it was decided to consult not only political parties but also constitutional experts, lawyers, and editors. Today’s meeting is a continuation of that decision, with participants requested to submit their opinions on constitutional reforms.
Opposition parties have stated that the government failed to form a Constitutional Reform Council as mandated by the referendum, and therefore they refuse to be part of any government-led constitutional amendment process. No opposition representatives were nominated to the special committee. Coalition parties without parliamentary representation, particularly those allied under the 11-party Unity Alliance, have also opted out of the process. Sources suggest a few other invited parties may also abstain from today’s meeting.
The July Charter was drafted through discussions with 30 political parties and alliances, as well as constitutional experts, during the tenure of the interim government. Four left-leaning parties did not sign the charter. Out of the 26 signatory parties and alliances, 8 are now members of the 11-party Unity Alliance.
Mujibur Rahman Manju, Chairman of the AB Party, a Unity Alliance member, told Prothom Alo they received an invitation but decided not to attend, insisting that a Constitutional Reform Council, not a special committee, should have been established, in line with the referendum’s outcome.
Of the 84 reform proposals in the July Charter, 48 involve constitutional amendments. The interim government had issued an order to implement the charter, including holding a referendum alongside the parliamentary election. After a “Yes” victory in the referendum, the 13th Parliament was supposed to form a Constitutional Reform Council and complete the reforms within 180 working days.
However, the BNP government did not form such a council, nor did its members take the required oath. Instead, on July 13, the parliament established a 12-member special committee, chaired by Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. Despite being offered five seats, the opposition refused to name representatives and rejected the committee outright.
Committee sources said the ruling party had hoped the opposition would join by the end of the third parliamentary session, which concluded on September 10, but this did not happen. The special committee is now preparing to proceed with its activities in full swing.
Akhtar Hossain, member secretary of the NCP, told Prothom Alo on Saturday that he was unsure if his party received an invitation, as he was busy with a long march program. He reiterated that constitutional reforms, as decided by referendum, had not been properly implemented. According to him, traditional constitutional amendment procedures will not resolve the ongoing crisis. He clarified that his party will not participate in the special committee but would join discussions if a Constitutional Reform Council is formed.
