NCC recommends referendum after July Charter’s immediate enforcement

Published : Tuesday, 28 October, 2025 at 4:17 PM Count : 10

The National Consensus Commission (NCC) on Tuesday recommended the interim government to arrange a referendum following immediate promulgation of the July National Charter (Constitution Amendment) Implementation Order 2025.

“We’ve recommended the government to arrange a referendum any day till the national-election day from the promulgation of an order,” said NCC Vice-Chair Prof Ali Riaz.

He said this replying to a question at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy after the submission of the recommendation report over the ways to implement the national charter before Chief Adviser of the interim government and also NCC chair Prof Muhammad Yunus at the latter’s residence, State Guest House Jamuna.

Prof Ali Riaz said they placed two alternative recommendations before the interim government over how to implement the July National Charter 2025, particularly 48 reform recommendations that are related to the Constitution.

“We requested and recommended the government to promulgate an order immediately and then arrange a referendum on a question to assess if the people have consent for this order and the 48 issues (reform recommendations) that would be in the schedule (of the order),” he said.

Explaining the recommendation further, Ali Riaz said a constituent assembly simultaneously with the 13th parliament will be effective to implement the July National Charter.

But the tenure of the Constituent Assembly will be 270 days to implement the charter by bringing changes to the Constitution, he said.

The elected candidates in the next general election shall take oaths twice as members of the Constituent Assembly and also as members of parliament, he said.

An upper house (senate) will be formed within 45 days after the 270-day tenure of the Constituent Assembly.

Talking about the alternative recommendation, Ali Riaz said the government shall promulgate an order framing a bill on the 48 issues and arrange a referendum on the order.

Consensus Commission members Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Justice Emdadul Haque, Safar Raj Hossain, Md Ayub Miah, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider and Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam were present at the briefing.

FP/MI