Four left-leaning political parties — the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Basod), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) — along with Gonoforum have decided to boycott the signing ceremony of the July National Charter on 17 October.
Masud Rana, coordinator of the central executive forum of Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), disclosed the decision to reporters after attending an emergency meeting of the National Consensus Commission with political parties this evening (15 October).
The five parties oppose the exclusion of the four fundamental principles of the Constitution from the July charter.
The parties said they would refrain from signing the charter if their objections regarding the omission of these principles and other issues are not addressed.
“Ideological and political matters should be kept outside the discussion, as consensus among parties on these issues is not possible. That is why four of our parties walked out during the discussion.”
He added, “Two other parties submitted notes of dissent. We had hoped the final charter would exclude the controversial points, but that was not reflected in the draft. Moreover, the document presented a distorted version of our nation-building history.”