National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has declared that there will be no “note of dissent” in the July Charter, affirming that the people’s will shall guide its implementation.
“Whatever consensus we have reached will be finalised by the people. Their decision will determine the course of action. Considering all these factors, we hope to move toward elections soon through the legal framework of the July Charter,” Nahid told this while addressing the inaugural and discussion session of the University Teachers’ Forum (UTF) on Friday at the Poet Shamsur Rahman Conference Room of the Bangla Academy.
Highlighting the spirit of the recent mass uprising, Nahid said, “We will carry forward Bangladesh by embracing the aspirations of the people.”
He stressed that all those who participated in the mass uprising should have representation in the next parliament. “That parliament will form a reform council to work on a new constitution. Teachers’ participation will be vital, and the NCP will ensure their inclusion,” he said.
Nahid also called for broad-based participation in the reform process, noting that the upcoming parliament and reform council should include young people, teachers, religious scholars, women, minorities, and professionals from all walks of life.
“Together, we will realise the vision of the July Charter. But before that, our foremost demand is a referendum. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus must be given this mandate under the July Charter,” he added.
At the event, the declaration of the University Teachers’ Forum (UTF) was read out by its Convener, Professor Md Sirajul Islam, while Professor Shamim Hamidi serves as the forum’s Member Secretary.
Emphasising the growing public demand for transformation, Nahid warned that without genuine change, “everything, including uprisings, elections, and consensus commissions, will fail.” He cautioned that if the current system remains unchanged, “the youth will once again take to the streets.”
“The fascist structure still exists, and that’s why full consensus remains out of reach, even after the dialogue process,” Nahid said. “Fascism cannot be eliminated without a change in personal and social consciousness. The mass uprising has created a bridge between students and teachers, who continue to play a key role in the fight for democracy.”
He concluded by reaffirming his party’s commitment to standing with educators in their ongoing struggle for democratic reform.
