Commission report fails to reflect July Charter discussions, claims Salahuddin

BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has alleged that the recommendations made by the National Consensus Commission do not fully reflect the discussions held with political parties, nor are they consistent with the provisions of the July Charter signed on October 17, reports UNB.
"The charter includes only the Commission's proposals. It does not mention what the political parties recommended, where consensus was reached, or where dissenting opinions were recorded," he said while speaking at a seminar held at a city hotel
Salahuddin said the document signed by political parties at the South Plaza of the National Parliament was intended to reflect the issues discussed with the Commission, but it lacks that consistency.
The BNP leader said the charter attached a schedule proposing amendments to 48 articles of the Constitution, which would be subject to a national referendum. "If this was their plan all along, then what was the point of holding 11 months of discussions under the Commission?" he asked.
The BNP leader further said during the Commission's deliberations, when political parties sought assurance of the charter's implementation, the BNP had proposed issuing a gazette notification to guarantee it. Although most parties supported the idea, the Commission later backtracked on the decision, he claimed.
Reflecting on his own experience with the Commission, Salahuddin said, "I often felt isolated, as if I alone was on the opposing side. It seemed the Commission and several parties tried to impose their decisions."
He alleged that both the Commission and some political parties attempted to impose 'unconsidered decisions' on the nation, while the BNP represented the voice of the people.