DHAKA, Aug 1: Bangladeshi protesters have continued their sit-in demonstration at Shahbagh, causing traffic congestion and inconvenience for residents. The protesters demanded immediate implementation of the July Charter, demanding no more delays in July. Local media reported that hundreds of demonstrators blocked the intersection, bringing vehicular movement to a standstill as they called on the National Consensus Commission (NCC) to finalize the July Charter.
At the last day’s session of second-round dialogues, the NCC announced that several political parties reached an agreement on seven reform issues, including the appointment of the caretaker government chief, formation of an upper house, and election of the president. However, six of the agreements were opposed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies.
The majority of political parties reached an agreement on seven issues, although several parties, including the BNP, expressed dissent on six of them. Vice-President of NCC Ali Riaz said that discussions were successfully concluded by July 31, and they will prepare the full version of the July Charter soon and share it with political parties.
Several political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), and Islami Andolon, raised objections to the draft of the July Charter, particularly the provision to implement reform proposals within two years of forming the government after national elections. The latest round of talks aimed to complete the recommendations of various reform commissions set by the interim government under Muhammad Yunus and drafting the July Charter. (IANS)
