July Charter possible if political parties show flexibility

Vice-chair of the National Consensus Commission Professor Ali Riaz has urged political parties to demonstrate greater flexibility and compromise to help ease the finalisation of the July Charter.

“This dialogue has given political parties an opportunity to come closer. We have observed this progress.”

Riaz made the request during inaugural speech of Sunday’s session between political parties and the Commission at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.

He added, “From the standpoint you have started, some level of concession will be necessary. In considering these concessions, speak to your own policymakers.”

Ali Riaz said certain key issues remain unresolved from the past days of discussion. “Among these are the formation of an upper house of parliament, women’s representation, and the establishment of a National Constitutional Council,” he said.

Over the weekend, he said, several political parties reached out to the Commission – and the Commission to them – expressing a willingness to consult their leadership on issues like the upper house.

“The Commission also believes they need to hold internal meetings. For this reason, we have decided to defer discussions on these issues and reconvene two days later,” Ali Riaz added.

On Sunday, the Commission planned to focus discussions on the Prime Minister’s tenure, the core principles of the Constitution, and the delimitation of electoral constituencies.

Calling for empathy and realism from the political parties, Ali Riaz said, “Consider the context. We are here today because of a difficult situation – 16 years of conflict, the sacrifice of nearly a thousand lives, countless cases of enforced disappearance. Many remain missing to this day. These are your activists, your sons. We are only able to sit here today because of them.”

“In this light, we must reflect on where agreement is possible and how far we can go. It’s important to consider the space for compromise. I request you to move closer to that space, only then will the July Charter become easier to finalise,” he said.

Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, head of the Public Administration Reform Commission; Safar Raj Hossain, chief of the Police Reform Commission; Badiul Alam Majumdar, chief of the Electoral Reform Commission; Justice Emdadul Haque, head of the Judicial Reform Commission; and Iftekharuzzaman, chief of the Anti-Corruption Commission Reform Committee, were also present.