Although the BNP is not fully satisfied with the government's decisions on key issues regarding the July charter's implementation, it has chosen a softer stance over the matter, ruling out any stern move for now. 

On the other hand, the Jamaat-e-Islami has stuck to its demand for holding a referendum on constitutional reforms in the charter before the national election, warning of indefinite sit-ins if its call was ignored.

Meanwhile, the National Citizen Party expressed frustration over the announcement, saying that there is still uncertainty over full implementation of the July charter.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus unveiled the decisions in a televised address on Thursday after the parties missed a one week deadline set by the government to reach a consensus on the unresolved July charter issues. 

As per the announcement, the national election and the July charter referendum will be held on the same day, a decision that matched the BNP's demand.

The government also decided that an upper house of parliament will be formed through a proportional representation system on the basis of total votes received by each party. The PR system was among Jamaat's core demands.

At a Standing Committee meeting on Thursday night, BNP leaders reviewed Yunus' address and voiced dissatisfaction over several elements.

Yet, as part of a strategy to keep the election at the heart of its politics, the party decided against any aggressive response for now. Acting chairman Tarique Rahman virtually presided over the meeting at the party chairperson's Gulshan office.

"The party does not want to start a new dispute over the charter at this stage. The government has placed proper importance on holding the election, a key demand the party has long been pushing for," a Standing Committee member told this newspaper after the meeting.

"We will now closely watch how the government proceeds in the coming days," the member added.

Speaking at an event in Shahbagh yesterday, Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the BNP remains committed to upholding the July National Charter exactly as signed.

Welcoming the referendum timing, he added, "If any coercive proposals beyond the signed July charter remains, the people will give their decision on these matters through the referendum on the election day."

DEBATE AT STANDING COMMITTEE

During the three-hour meeting, Salahuddin detailed discrepancies between the signed charter and the July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order, 2025 issued by President Mohammed Shahabuddin soon after Yunus' address.

Under the order, the next parliament would also function as a Constitutional Reform Council to implement the charter's reforms.

Salahuddin objected broadly to four points: the referendum question, formation of the Constitutional Reform Council, use of the PR system for the 100-member upper house, and the president's authority to issue such an order.

Several members argued that taking a confrontational stance now would only spark complications and distract from election preparations. One member said Tarique was dissatisfied with Yunus' speech but agreed to adopt a softer line as the majority wanted to keep the polls at the centre of its politics.

"There are some people in the Yunus team who want to make the situation complicated. Ahead of the polls, many complications may arise. That's why we closely watch every action of the government," another member said.

The leaders accepted the same-day referendum but said the process is flawed, with a complicated question containing four sections. They said citizens cannot vote on multiple issues in a single referendum question.

They also questioned the legitimacy and authority of a Constitutional Reform Council whose members would not be directly elected -- an issue that had surfaced during the National Consensus Commission talks.

Salahuddin further criticised the government for choosing the PR system for the upper house despite divergent views in the consensus process.

Some members said the president has the authority to issue ordinances, but the head of the state does not have the constitutional power to issue an order of this kind.

JAMAAT REMAINS RIGID

The eight-party alliance, including Jamaat and Islami Andolan Bangladesh, maintained its uncompromising demand for holding the referendum before the national polls.

The government had "bowed to the demand of BNP" by planning both votes on the same day, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher said while delivering the alliance's official reaction.

He said they were "surprised" that instead of adopting the consensus commission's recommendations, the chief adviser introduced "many changes by compromising with a particular party," implying the BNP.

"As a result, the people and the nation are disappointed," Taher said at a briefing in Moghbazar, flanked by alliance leaders.

Taher argued that the nation had wanted the referendum on a separate day and claimed that if it were held earlier, "80 percent people would go against the thinking and ideology of a particular party."

He said the BNP had refused to accept any referendum held first, and the government had "bowed to their demand."

Accusing the interim government of losing neutrality, he said it was "aligned with a particular party" and attempting to hold an election "in any manner necessary to bring that party to power".

Without naming anyone, he alleged that three advisers were working for that party and demanded their removal.

Taher warned that the alliance would take a "final decision" at its meeting on Sunday, if its demands were not met, though he expressed gratitude to Yunus for giving constitutional legitimacy to the July charter through an order.

Leaders of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Khefat Majlish, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, JAGPA, and Bangladesh Development Party were present.

NCP SEES VAGUENESS, RISKS

The NCP said several key aspects, such as the implementation order, referendum question, fate of dissent notes on crucial reform proposals and the Constitution Reform Council's authority, are still unclear.

"What will happen if the council cannot complete its job within the 180-day timeframe?" NCP Member Secretary Akhter Hossen asked while giving the party's official response to the chief adviser's address at a press conference yesterday.

One of the alternative proposals recommended by the consensus commission had stated that the proposed reforms would be automatically incorporated into the constitution in case of the Constitution Reform Council's failure to complete the process within a 270-day timeframe. The final order shortened the deadline, but dropped the proposal on automatic inclusion.

"The language used in the order is subject to interpretation …. As a result, instead of ensuring transparency, the order has created further questions," Akhter said.

He urged the government to promptly provide a clear explanation of the order and remove all ambiguities so that the ongoing crisis surrounding the July charter can be effectively resolved.

He demanded that the referendum result must be made binding so that no one can deviate from the charter. 

"All in all, the ambiguities and interpretive flexibility left within the July charter implementation order make it vulnerable to exploitation by those who will come to power. We find it deeply concerning," he said.

Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said the party would sign the charter only after receiving clarity on the implementation order, referendum framework, and reform roadmap.

"We wanted to dismantle the authoritarian framework of 1972, but through this order, we are once again walking the path of the 1972 Constitution," he said.