NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain made the remarks after a meeting with the National Consensus Commission on Saturday (October 25) afternoon.
“The commission informed us that they are in the process of preparing an order to implement the July Charter, which we consider a sign of progress,” Akhtar Hossain said. “However, they have expressed their inability to show us the draft or its contents so far, which has left us somewhat discouraged.”
He appreciated the commission’s initiative but urged it to remain independent and transparent. “We applaud the sincerity with which the commission is working on the July Charter implementation order,” he said. “But we have urged them to ensure that it is not presented to the nation merely as a paper document under pressure from any political group, like the July Declaration, which ultimately failed in implementation.”
Akhtar Hossain emphasized that the NCP wants to review the draft before any signing takes place. “We expect the commission to share the draft they are preparing with us. We can only move forward with signing the July Charter once we are fully convinced of its content,” he said.
He added that the National Citizens Party has been actively engaged in the consensus process from the beginning and is committed to keeping the reform discussions within the national mainstream. “We have long been fighting for the July Charter to receive full legal recognition, and we will continue our efforts until that goal is achieved,” he stated.
Regarding Saturday’s discussion, Akhtar Hossain said the NCP placed several demands before the commission. “The commission should prepare the draft order carefully and share it with all stakeholders before issuance. It must not become a one-sided document like the July Declaration, which failed to reflect a collective voice. Otherwise, the July Charter will risk becoming another disappointment,” he warned.
He further observed that the political landscape surrounding the July Charter remains divided. “Although many political parties participated in the signing ceremony, they are now split into two groups — one seeking to erase the Charter, and another trying to obstruct its implementation,” Hossain said. “In this situation, the NCP firmly believes that only the full and proper implementation of the July Charter can resolve the ongoing political crisis.”
He concluded by saying, “The commission’s effort to prepare the implementation order is a positive step. However, the text, content, and scope of the order have not yet been clearly presented to us. We have submitted our proposals, and the commission has assured us that it will review them internally and discuss the issues with the government.”
