A “new Bangladesh” is born, said Interim Government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, as the government, along with 25 political parties, signed its historic July National Charter on Friday, October 17.
It seeks to reform the country’s political, legal and constitutional systems following the deadly mass uprising in July 2024 that led to the ousting of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League Party.
‘The Ceremony’
Despite a rainy Friday at South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, Yunus and political parties displayed political unity as they expressed their support for the Charter.
Marking the birth of a new Bangladesh, where political and institutional reform can achieve independence, sovereignty, and democracy.
The ceremony started at 4:37pm with the singing of the national anthem.
The signing was held at 5pm, led by Yunus, National Consensus Commission Vice-President Prof Ali Riaz, other commission members and leaders of various political parties.
Meanwhile, outside the Parliament complex, protests erupted as demonstrators, mostly families of July uprising victims, demanded state recognition, legal protection and rehabilitation.
Police responded with tear gas, batons and sound grenades, resulting in several injuries.
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The signatories
Parties who signed the Charter include leaders and representatives from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
This includes Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed.
For the Jamaat-e-Islami party, Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher and Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar signed the document.
Other parties who signed were the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Khelafat Majlish, Rastro Songskar Andolon, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), Nagorik Oikya, and the Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM).
As well as the Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Ganosamhati Andolon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Gono Odhikar Parishad (GOP), Biplobi Workers Party, Jatiyatabadi Sammanna Jote, and the 12-Party Alliance.
The Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Zaker Party, Jatiya Gonofront, Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party, Bangladesh Labour Party, Bhashani Jonoshokti Party, Jamiat Ulamaye Islam Bangladesh, Islami Oikya Jote and Amjonotar Dal also signed.
NCP, other parties boycott the ceremony
The National Citizen Party (NCP) – the student-led group who spearheaded the uprising, was among the parties who did not sign the Charter.
The party’s convenor, Nahid Islam, said they refused to sign the document as it lacks legal basis.
According to sources, the party has two main reasons for withholding their signatures: It has no legal foundation and there is no comprehensive outline for its implementation.
Nahid called it “legally baseless” and a direct “public deception and mockery.”
“Without a legal framework, the July Charter would simply become a piece of political compromise paper, contrary to the spirit of the July Uprising,” Nahid argued.
The party, however, said it is still open to signing the Charter when the full outline of its implementation orders is made public.
Other parties who did not sign the Charter were Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Basod), Bangladesh JSD, and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist).
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