The National Consensus Commission is making steady progress in its dialogue with political parties, raising hopes that the long-anticipated ‘July Charter’ could be announced within the month, according to the commission’s vice-chairman Professor Ali Riaz.

Speaking at the start of a commission meeting at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Thursday (July 3), Riaz said, “If the current momentum continues, we hope to finalise and announce the July Charter by this month.”

He called on all stakeholders to remain focused, noting that the challenges the country has faced in recent times should serve as a driving force for building agreement. 

“If we can reach a consensus, it will mark a significant step forward for the nation,” he said.

Riaz also mentioned that while some preliminary discussions had already taken place on key issues, the commission would now allow individual parties to express their views more specifically. “We aim to conclude today's session with concrete progress,” he added.

According to the commission, around 20 critical issues remain unresolved and require in-depth deliberation. 

Thursday's agenda includes discussions on presidential pardons, decentralization of the judiciary, and the declaration of a state of emergency – all to be reviewed in light of the commission’s draft proposals.

Riaz further noted that matters where consensus has yet to be achieved will remain open for future negotiation.

On Wednesday, the vice-chairman revealed that the commission and all participating political parties had already reached agreement on restoring the caretaker government system and redrawing electoral constituencies – two of the most debated topics in the ongoing talks.

The National Consensus Commission, formed to bridge the political divide ahead of potential reforms, has been holding a series of meetings in recent weeks involving representatives from major political parties and civil society.

SMS/