Bangladesh's Interim Government Sets One-Week Deadline for Political Parties to Resolve Reform Charter Disagreements

Bangladesh:

Political discord in Bangladesh has impeded progress on a critical democratic reform initiative, prompting the interim government to establish a one-week deadline for parties to find common ground or face independent government action.

Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and current "chief advisor" of the interim government, emphasized that he inherited a political system that had "completely broken down" following last year's uprising.

The reform charter, which Yunus has positioned as the cornerstone of his administration's legacy, is described as essential for preventing a return to authoritarian governance.

While key political parties formally endorsed the document during an October ceremony, some have insisted that it requires ratification through a referendum.

Asif Nazrul, holding the law portfolio in the interim administration, informed reporters that "despite holding discussions for a long time, political parties still have unresolved issues of disagreement."

He specifically highlighted disagreements regarding "the timetable of the referendum and the topics to be included."

The South Asian nation of 170 million has experienced political instability since Sheikh Hasina's government collapsed in August 2024, leading to her flight to neighboring India.

The "July Charter," named after the popular revolt, has emerged as a contentious issue among political parties competing for power ahead of national elections anticipated in February 2026.

Yunus, who has committed to stepping down after elections, maintains that the reform plan will enhance the system of checks and balances between the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government.

The proposed charter includes provisions for a two-term limit for prime ministers and an expansion of presidential authority.

"We urge the political parties to come up with a united position on the referendum at the earliest -- preferably within a week," Nazrul stated. "Otherwise, the government will act independently."

Salahuddin Ahmed, a senior figure in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), suggested that such decision-making exceeded the interim government's mandate, remarking: "I have never seen a referee try to score a goal."

Leaders of the BNP, considered among the frontrunners in the upcoming election, as well as Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh's largest Islamist party, have signed the charter.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), comprising many student activists who led the uprising that ended Hasina's rule, has not endorsed the document.