The National Consensus Commission will submit its recommendations on implementing the July Charter after its signing on October 17, as it has yet to finalise the implementation process, commission sources said.The final version of the charter will be sent to political parties today, but it will not include any implementation roadmap.

The commission will submit those recommendations separately to the interim government at a later stage.

“No further opinions will be taken from the political parties. The final version is basically the same as the previous draft, with minor language corrections,” said a commission source.

Commission Vice-President Prof Ali Riaz yesterday declined to comment on the delay in submitting implementation proposals but confirmed to The Daily Star that the charter being sent today will focus solely on agreed reforms.

It would not include the recommendations on the implementation process, he said.

Asked on what basis political parties would sign the charter without the implementation process included, Riaz said, “They will sign it based on the consensus agreed upon by all political parties. It is a historical document. It should be signed first.”

Earlier, on September 11, the commission circulated a draft of the charter and announced that no new proposals would be added or removed. Following two rounds of dialogue with political parties, the commission finalised 84 reform proposals, which will be part of the July National Charter.

The commission had sought opinions from political parties on repealing article 4A of the constitution, which requires the display of portraits of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in government offices. Most parties supported its removal, but the issue will not be included in the charter.

“Since parties are already in agreement, the next parliament will take the decision on the matter,” Prof Riaz said.

The commission had initially planned to have the charter signed in July, but the process stalled over disagreements on implementation.

Although parties agreed in principle to enforce the charter through a referendum, they failed to reach consensus on the timing, procedures, and framework.

The commission will now combine expert and party opinions to prepare a set of implementation recommendations for the government.

SIGNING CEREMONY

The signing ceremony will be held on October 17. So far, 30 political parties and alliances have submitted the names of their representatives who will sign the document, said Monir Haidar, special assistant to the chief adviser on consensus building.

There will be one master copy of the charter containing three sections — a preamble on the reform initiative’s historical context, a list of reform proposals, and a declaration of commitment.

Thirty copies of the declaration will be signed individually before being consolidated in the master copy.

The cultural affairs ministry is assisting in organising the ceremony at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad, where around 3,000 guests will be invited.

The programme will have two sessions — the signing before Maghrib prayers, followed by a projection mapping presentation narrating the journey of the charter.

The ministry is also preparing a cultural programme, pending final approval.

Speaking at the venue yesterday, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki said final plans will be confirmed after a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

“This document represents our future roadmap and a major political shift,” Farooki said. “We want the signing to be a historic moment — something for future generations to remember.”