Dhaka – Major political parties have signed a document on Friday affirming their pledge to a sweeping reform agenda prepared by the interim administration.
The agenda was proposed by the National Consensus Commission; the administration had formed it last year after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in the face of a mass uprising.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who is also the head of the commission, his deputies at the commission, representatives of at least 25 political parties sighed the document styled July National Charter 2025 at a ceremony at the South Plaza of national parliament building in Dhaka.
Prior to the signing ceremony, police clashed with several hundred protesters who identified them as July warriors as they forcibly entered into the venue to press a number of demands that included granting their indemnity for the participation in last year’s uprising.
Police fired teargas and sound grenades to disperse the mob as the protesters vandalized vehicles and set fire to establishments at the venue. The venue was, however, cleared before the invited guests and chief adviser’s arrival along the council of his advisers.
The event began nearly 30 minutes behind the schedule because of inclement weather.
Signing the document, Yunus said it marked the beginning of a new Bangladesh. He urged the parties to carry out the reforms in phases as he proposed to hold national election in February next year.
“Through this, we have moved from barbarism to the world of civilization,” the chief adviser said in reference to the abuse of power in the past regimes.
The charter proposes sweeping changes to all three branches of the state — the legislature, executive, and judiciary. Besides, it proposes legitimizing last year’s uprising, grants indemnity to its participants, and promises compensation to the families of those who died and rehabilitation for the injured.
The commission finalized the charter after a series of dialogues with 33 political parties that participated in the anti-Hasina protests.
Hasina’s Awami League party, whose activities are currently banned, and its allies were not involved in the eight-month-long discussions on the reform agenda.
According to the Chief Adviser’s office 25 parties signed the charter on Friday. They are: Liberal Democratic Party, Khelafat Mazlish, Rastro Sangskaer Andolon, Amar Bangladesh Party, Nagorik Okyia, Jatiytabadi Ganatantrikj Andolon, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Ganasanghati Andolon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Gana Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Biplobi Workers Party, Jatiyotabadi Samamona Jote, 12-party Jote, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Gana Forum, Jaker Party, Jatiya Gana Front, Bangladesh Nezame Islam, Bangladesh Labour Party, Bhasani Janashakti Party, Jamiate Ulamaey Islam Bangladesh, Islami Okiya Jote, Aamjanatar Dal.
However, the National Citizen Party (NCP), formed in February by the students who led the mass uprising —and few other left-leaning parties declined to sign. They are Bangladesh Communist Party, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrikj Dal.
Among the total 84 reforms proposals, 27 got absolute consensus. In the rest other proposals, parties gave opposing views or not of descents.
The reform proposals that were put for discussion include limiting an individual’s tenure as prime minister to no more than 10 years, introducing a bicameral parliament, rebalancing power between the president and the prime minister, and ensuring the total independence of the judiciary from the executive branch.
It also proposed restructuring the election commission, reforming police and administration.
These measures are aimed at reducing the abuse of state power and ensuring accountability at all levels of government.
