Bangladesh: Why Tarique Rahman’s BNP rejected Constitution Reform Council oath: Will BNP implement July Charter? | World News
Under Tariq Rahman’s leadership, political friction re-emerged in Bangladesh on Tuesday after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami fell out over taking an additional oath in connection with the recent referendum.
While the BNP’s newly elected MPs were sworn in as members of parliament, they refused to make a separate commitment to serve on the Constitutional Reform Council, a central feature of the interim administration’s post-referendum reform roadmap. In response, Jamaat-e-Islami members refrained from taking the oath and warned of nationwide protests.
BNP Renews Commitment to July Charter
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Despite rejecting the Reform Council oath, the BNP remained committed to implementing the July National Charter.
Salahuddin Ahmed, BNP standing committee member and newly elected MP from Cox’s Bazar-1, said the party is strictly committed to the agreement. “We are fully committed to implementing the July National Charter as signed as a consensus document between political forces,” he told reporters.
He made these remarks shortly after 12.30 pm after the first meeting of the BNP parliamentary party, which was held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban after the party’s MPs completed the parliamentary oath ceremony.
Why Did BNP Skip Reform Council Oath?
Announcing the decision, Salahuddin said that BNP MPs believe that the public authority expressed through the referendum should first be translated into action in the parliament. According to him, any constitutional reform should be discussed and enacted through appropriate legal procedures, including amendments passed in parliament.
He also argued that under the current constitutional framework, the chief electoral commissioner does not have the authority to enforce the oath of office of members of the Constitutional Reform Council. He noted that the CEC did not apply to BNP MPs for such an oath ceremony and did not carry out such a process.
What is the July National Charter?
The July National Charter is a political consensus document signed by the leading parties that outlines a roadmap for constitutional and institutional reforms following the referendum. It lays out commitments to strengthen democratic governance, reform key state institutions, and ensure greater accountability and electoral transparency.
The charter provides for the reforms to be implemented through parliamentary procedures, including legislative amendments and structural changes approved by elected representatives. BNP leaders stressed that they may disagree on procedural matters such as the Reform Council oath, but remain committed to the broader commitments set out in the July Constitution.
