Rift over reforms, referendum cast shadow over historic July Charter signing

Disagreements lingered over the signing of the July National Charter even after the National Consensus Commission convened an urgent meeting, attended by leaders of political parties and alliances, to resolve uncertainties. Questions remain over how the Charter -- a pledge for state reforms and their implementation -- will be enforced, whether a referendum will be held before national elections, and how divergent views on reforms incorporated into the Charter will be reconciled. On Wednesday evening, at the urgent meeting called by the commission’s head Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus no indication emerged that the differences among parties were narrowing. Leaders exiting the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka spoke of renewed “crisis” over the July Charter signing. The Jamaat-e-Islami and the National...