Bangladesh Parties Near Consensus on Reform Charter, Dispute Remains Over Implementation

TDT | DHAKA

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Bangladesh’s interim government announced on Monday that major political parties have largely agreed on a sweeping reform charter, though divisions remain over how the proposals should be enforced.

The South Asian nation of 170 million has faced political upheaval since August 2024, when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted following a student-led revolt. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus has endorsed the 28-page draft, known as the “July Charter,” which emerged from last year’s uprising. The document proposes significant structural changes, including a two-term limit for prime ministers and expanded presidential powers.

Ali Riaz, vice-chairman of the Consensus Commission, has spearheaded negotiations with nearly 30 political groups. After concluding a second round of talks on Sunday, he confirmed that broad agreement had been reached on 84 reform proposals.

“The political parties have agreed on 84 proposals, with only limited dissent,” Riaz said. “The main point of contention now is the procedure for implementing them.”

The central dispute concerns the legal authority of the charter. Critics argue that it cannot override the existing constitution before the general elections scheduled for February, when a newly elected parliament could formally adopt it.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) insists that parliament must decide on the charter’s fate, while Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami and allied groups are demanding immediate ratification. Jamaat has already announced a series of mass rallies, beginning in Dhaka on September 18 and expanding nationwide on September 26, to press for swift adoption.

Despite the impasse, Riaz said the draft was nearly finalized. “We have asked political parties to nominate their representatives to sign,” he noted.