Nagorik Coalition call for election roadmap with buy-in from parties, consensus commission

Nagorik Coalition, a civil society platform, called for a clear timetable for reforms and election from the interim government without further delay.

"We believe that Reform, Trial and Election are not alternatives to each other, rather they are the three petals of a flower and all of them are achievable simultaneously," the platform said in a statement on Monday.

A lack of clear timetable with achievable milestones for much-needed reforms and election is adding to the general lack of trust among political stakeholders.

"A clear timetable for reforms and election is necessary for a successful transition to democracy that was one of the three cardinal aspirations of July 2024 i.e. reform, trial and election," the statement said.

The platform also demanded that the interim government transparently communicate the rationale for their policy decisions regarding matters of national importance and act for national unity.

"We the concerned citizens are concerned that the lack of transparency around the interim government's decisions around several matters of national importance -- including relations with Myanmar, foreign investment in Chittagong port and civil service reforms -- is fuelling mistrust among various stakeholders and instability across the society," according to the statement.

If the situation is not stabilised promptly, everything achieved since the July uprising would be lost, they said, adding that political stability remains elusive.

"After 15 years of despotic rule, there is significant grievance among all sections of the society. Defeated forces, as well as opportunists, try to hide behind protests over legitimate grievances and demands to achieve their ulterior motives," it said.

Subsequently, the platform asked the democratic political parties to agree to a set of constitutional, legal and administrative reforms that will prevent a lapse to autocracy in future, ensure equitable distribution of political powers and avoid escalatory approaches.

It said the Consensus Commission, along with the political parties, should documentarily as well as publicly commit to a clearly defined implementation pathway.