Dhaka, Oct. 31 -- Following a nearly 9 month-process of discussion and deliberation under the banner of the National Consensus Commission, most of which was broadcast live on national television, the commission prepared the final text on a set of reform proposals, 84 in all, that became known as the July Charter. In turn, 48 out of these 84 proposals, that may be called the most important among them, require constitutional amendments.

Even though fully three-fourths (36 out of 48) of these topics or proposals failed to elicit any meaningful consensus among the various political parties that took part in its meetings, the July Charter was presented as a document forged through consensus among the various parties, of their vision for a new...