BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has said his party holds no doubts regarding the upcoming national election, expressing confidence that it will take place in February next year.
He said, “The Chief Adviser has already sent a letter to the Election Commission. Its preparations are almost finished. We have no doubts about the election.”
Speaking to journalists at his residence in Gulshan on Tuesday (August 19), Salahuddin said that preparations were nearly complete.
He added that those raising doubts about the polls were doing so for strategic reasons. “There is nothing to comment on this,” he remarked.
On the July Charter proposed by the National Consensus Commission, Salahuddin said consensus had been reached among all parties on many of the 84 points. However, 15 points drew dissenting notes, including 10 from the BNP.
Regarding constitutional amendments, he explained that some proposals in the charter could be implemented through ordinances or executive orders.
However, provisions requiring constitutional amendments were originally meant to be enacted within the first two years of a new parliament’s tenure. This commitment, he pointed out, was absent from the revised draft.
Salahuddin said that no document could be placed above the constitution. “If the July Charter is elevated above the constitution, it will set a bad precedent for the future,” he said.
He said that the earlier draft required implementation within two years after parliamentary elections, but the new version omitted this clause and further stated the charter could not be questioned — a position he described as unacceptable.
He also indicated that the BNP might show flexibility on certain issues in the charter. “On two or three matters, such as the proportional representation method for the upper house of parliament and the formation of a caretaker government, compromises are possible,” he said.
According to Salahuddin, the BNP will submit its formal opinion to the National Consensus Commission on 20 August and will participate officially in the commission’s discussions beginning 25 August.
He concluded by acknowledging that while there were inconsistencies in the draft July Charter, they could be resolved through dialogue, and the BNP was prepared to take part in that process.
SMS/
