BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed stated that political parties will pledge in their election manifestos to implement all the recommendations of the July Charter, including 19 fundamental issues.
"Elected representatives will ensure implementation of these recommendations within two years. If there are any other legitimate legal or constitutional procedures beyond this, the parties will also agree on those," Salahuddin said at a press conference held on Thursday after a meeting of the National Consensus Commission at the Foreign Service Academy.
"All the recommendations of the July Charter, including the 19 constitutional issues, will be implemented through pledges in the election manifestos. This is the legitimate process. If there are any legal or constitutional matters beyond this, we will also agree to those."
He also reaffirmed the BNP's commitment to reforms, saying, "BNP is ready to sign the July Charter. Through this, a new democratic journey will begin."
Salahuddin also said it was unfeasible to implement the charter through a special constitutional order.
"If challenged in court due to procedural flaws, the legitimacy of the July Charter may be questioned. Therefore, such matters should be seriously considered before taking any constitutional decisions."
Referendum most realistic way to guarantee legal foundation, AB Party opines
On the other hand, Zubayer Ahmed Bhuiyan, joint secretary general of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), stated that a referendum or the election of a constituent assembly may be the most realistic methods for implementing the July Charter.
He said that, based on input from political parties, the NCC proposed several alternatives, including ordinances, executive orders, referendums, and special constitutional orders.
"Implementation of the July Charter through a referendum would reflect the will and opinion of the people, making it the most realistic way to provide a legal foundation for the July National Charter," Bhuiyan said.
"A future Parliament cannot provide legal legitimacy to the July National Charter. To grant legal validity to a change in the foundational structure of the Constitution, it must be done through a referendum or the formation of a Constituent Assembly or a Reform Assembly."
AB Party's Barrister Sani Abdul Haque added, "To implement the July Charter, certain fundamental aspects of the Constitution will need to be amended. Such changes are only possible through a referendum or a reformed Constituent Assembly. Otherwise, it may face constitutional challenges."
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