BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has accused Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus of breaching the commitments outlined in the historic July Charter through his latest national address.
In an immediate reaction to the Chief Adviser’s Thursday speech, Salahuddin said the newly introduced concept of a “Constitutional Reform Council” was never part of the original agreement reached through the consensus commission that drafted the charter.
“The Chief Adviser’s announcement of forming a new body goes beyond what was agreed upon in the July Charter. This is a clear violation of the commitments signed in that document,” he asserted.
Earlier in the day, Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, in a televised address to the nation, had outlined several key decisions aimed at implementing the July Charter.
Among them were plans to hold a national referendum on proposed constitutional reforms and subsequently establish a Constitutional Reform Council composed of elected representatives, who would also serve as members of parliament.
According to Dr Yunus, “If the referendum results in a majority ‘yes’ vote, a Constitutional Reform Council will be formed, tasked with finalizing amendments within 180 working days of its first session.”
He further stated that within 30 working days after the council completes its task, an upper house of parliament would be constituted in proportion to the vote share of the national election, and its tenure would continue until the dissolution of the lower house.
The Chief Adviser also announced that the referendum on the constitutional reform proposals will be held on the same day as the national elections — a decision broadly aligned with BNP’s earlier demand but in contrast to the eight-party alliance, which had called for the referendum to take place before the election.
PT/ra
