BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has alleged that the National Consensus Commission’s final report does not reflect the true spirit of the discussions held with political parties, claiming there is a clear “mismatch” between the July Charter and the Commission’s recommendations.
Speaking at a seminar in a city hotel, Salahuddin said the charter includes only the Commission’s proposals, leaving out political parties’ recommendations, areas of consensus, and dissenting opinions.
“The document signed at the South Plaza of the National Parliament was expected to reflect what was discussed with the Commission, but that consistency is missing,” he said.
He noted that the charter contains a schedule proposing amendments to 48 articles of the Constitution, to be approved through a national referendum. “If this was their plan all along, then what was the point of holding 11 months of Commission discussions?” he questioned.
Salahuddin said that during the Commission’s deliberations, the BNP had proposed issuing a gazette notification to ensure implementation of the charter. Although most political parties supported the idea, the Commission later withdrew from it.
Warning that the current approach of both the Commission and the government would deepen political divisions rather than build consensus, the BNP leader said the process had failed to inspire national unity.
He also criticized the Election Commission’s directive requiring alliance members to contest elections under their own electoral symbols, terming the move “undemocratic.”
Reflecting on his personal experience with the Commission, Salahuddin said, “I often felt isolated, as if I was the only one opposing. It seemed the Commission and some parties tried to impose their own decisions.”
He alleged that both the Commission and certain political parties attempted to push “unconsidered decisions” on the nation, asserting that the BNP had voiced the people’s genuine concerns.
Salahuddin further claimed that many of the issues now set for a referendum were never discussed in the Commission’s meetings. “I was the first to propose holding a referendum alongside the national election, and most parties agreed. But the 48 constitutional points now included were never brought up during our discussions,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Salahuddin expressed hope that the interim government would function as a truly neutral caretaker administration, ensuring fairness and balance in its actions.
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