For the sake of vital reforms, the heads of five reform commissions that were established in the second phase have encouraged the Chief Advisor to take action to include their proposals in the proposed July Charter.
They also hoped that Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus would take prompt and appropriate action in this regard in a joint letter that was delivered to the Chief Advisor’s office on Sunday.
The National Consensus Commission’s discussions with political parties over the suggestions made by the six theme commissions established in the first phase were deemed “timely and important” by the commission chairs.
They indicated that the reform initiatives recommended by the commissions established during the second phase were equally crucial for the institutionalization of democracy and the establishment of a new Bangladesh.
However, they advised that, despite facing time limitations, the interim government should undertake at least two effective measures immediately to ensure that political parties commit to implementing necessary reforms.
Firstly, it is essential to identify reforms that can be realistically implemented at this time and initiate their execution, as stated in the press release.
Secondly, it is possible to obtain commitments from political parties to ensure that the elected government will carry on with these reforms.
The heads of the commissions also noted that if the July Charter fails to incorporate reforms related to media, women, labor, healthcare, and local governance, political parties may have the chance to disregard or overlook these issues in the future, which could negatively affect public sentiment.
The letter mentioned that a considerable number of workers, women, and journalists lost their lives during the July mass uprising, emphasizing that if the hopes and aspirations that emerged from their sacrifices are overlooked, it could result in widespread disappointment and resentment.
The leaders of the commissions also conveyed their profound appreciation to the Chief Advisor for giving them the task of developing recommendations on five particular matters.
The letter was signed by Presidents Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed of the Labor Reform Commission, Shirin Parvin Haque of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, Tofail Ahmed of the Local Government Reform Commission, National Professor AK Azad Khan of the Health Sector Reform Commission, and Kamal Ahmed of the Media Reform Commission.
