BNP Demands Clear Notes of Dissent for Signing July Charter

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has confirmed that his party will sign the July National Charter, but emphasised that differences of opinion will be formally recorded as “notes of dissent” within the document itself.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the National Consensus Commission at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Wednesday, October 15, Salahuddin clarified that the charter is not linked to the upcoming parliamentary elections.

“Our goal remains to hold a fair, impartial, and internationally recognised traditional election for the national parliament in the first half of February next year,” he said. “But what does that have to do with the July National Charter? In my view, the two are entirely separate.”

He stressed that while all parties are committed to signing the charter—which outlines broad national reforms—not all provisions enjoy unanimous agreement. “Where there are differences, we have the right to include formal notes of dissent,” he explained. “These will be clearly specified in the relevant clauses, detailing exactly on which issues, and how, we disagree.”

Salahuddin noted that the Consensus Commission itself has acknowledged this mechanism, allowing participants to register reservations. “If everyone had fully agreed on every proposal, there would have been no need for such discussions,” he said.

Looking ahead, he proposed that the charter’s implementation be tied to democratic legitimacy. “We have suggested holding a referendum on the same day as the Jatiya Sangsad elections,” he said. “Through this, the people can endorse the consensus-based proposals—and even the dissenting views—of the July Charter.”

He added that parties or individuals who include their dissenting positions in their election manifestos and subsequently win a public mandate would be entitled to implement those specific proposals.

“Now, the inclusion of dissenting notes in every relevant clause has made the process more robust,” Salahuddin said. “Earlier, some may have hesitated to sign due to disagreements—but that option no longer exists. We have ensured that signing does not mean blanket endorsement, but rather a commitment to national dialogue with transparency.”