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Fair, festive February polls depend on consensus

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Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:26 AM
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Fair, festive February polls depend on consensus
Bangla Press Desk:   Reaffirming the interim government’s commitment to holding a celebratory national election in February 2026, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday stressed that political parties must reach a consensus without fail to ensure the success of the journey towards a “New Bangladesh.” “We keep emphasising this: the upcoming election should be a moment of celebration. If the remaining issues are resolved, it will be a grand national festival – a true rebirth of the nation. This is more than just an election; it is a celebration for all Bangladeshis,” he said, urging all political parties to work together to complete the final steps. Prof Yunus added that the world will be watching closely the approach Bangladesh takes on its road to the next national election in February. He said the progress made by political parties through the National Consensus Commission (NCC) would serve as a model not only for Bangladesh but for the entire world.
“The whole world will see how we solved the problem,” he said. Reflecting on the commission’s journey, the chief adviser admitted that he had initially been uncertain about its success. “Now I believe the commission members have set an unprecedented example through long discussions and patience,” he said. He stressed that consensus is the only path forward and urged political leaders to complete the remaining steps.
“If we want to stop autocrats in future, there is room for disagreement, but we cannot complete the task while keeping differences. My earnest appeal: embrace each other when finalising the July Charter,” he added. The final round of talks on Sunday, held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, failed to produce an agreement on the implementation of the ‘July National Charter 2025’. Sources said the commission’s tenure, which expires on Monday, will be extended for a few more days to allow further discussions and build consensus. Representatives from about 30 political parties attended the dialogue, along with Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul.
NCC Vice-Chairman Professor Dr Ali Riaz chaired the meeting, calling for cooperation from all parties. “Some issues remain unresolved. We will definitely be able to reach a final conclusion in the coming days,” he said. Ali Riaz described the national charter as a product of collective effort and a continuation of the unity that defeated fascism in Bangladesh. “This charter reflects the commitment of political leaders to move forward together. We must maintain this momentum,” he said. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, however, remains unwilling to accept the July Charter purely as a political document. Senior leader Hamidur Rahman Azad said the party seeks its recognition as a legal instrument.
BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, who led his party’s delegation, insisted that the next general election must take place in the first half of February without conditions. “There is no alternative. The election is not conditional on reforms or justice. Reforms will continue, judicial processes will continue, but the election must be held as scheduled,” he told reporters. Salahuddin Ahmed also said the BNP is ready to sign the July Charter and has already submitted the names of two representatives for this purpose. He urged the chief adviser to seek the Supreme Court’s opinion to ensure the charter’s legal basis and called for smaller follow-up meetings to resolve remaining issues. Meanwhile, the National Citizens Party (NCP) demanded an extension of the NCC’s tenure and the holding of elections to a Constituent Assembly to implement the commission’s recommendations. “We have almost completed our discussions. If the commission is granted a few more days, we can reach a positive decision through dialogue,” said NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain. The NCC officially began its work on 15 February 2025. In its first phase, from 20 March to 19 April, it held 44 meetings with 32 parties and alliances. The second phase, inaugurated on 2 June, continued for 23 days until 31 July. Following reform talks, the final consolidated draft of the July National Charter was sent to political parties, outlining four possible methods of implementation: ordinance, executive order, referendum, and special constitutional order. Parties remain firm on their positions. BNP supports implementing constitutional issues within two years of forming the next parliament. Jamaat-e-Islami seeks implementation before the next election with legal authority, while NCP prefers implementation through a Constituent Assembly.  This article was originally published on Daily Sun. [Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.] BP/SP
[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]

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