BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday accused the opposition of misleading the public over the implementation of the July Charter, saying his party remains committed to carrying out the agreement signed by all political parties involved in the movement.
“The issue is being raised to confuse the people,” Fakhrul said while speaking at a memorial meeting at the National Press Club.
He said some opposition leaders have been claiming that the matter would be settled on the streets if the demand for implementing the July Charter is not fulfilled in parliament.
“We have signed the July Charter together with all the parties that took part in the movement. We have repeatedly said that we are committed to implementing every word of the charter,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks at a programme organised by the Professor Emajuddin Ahmed Research Centre and the National Journalists Association marking the sixth death anniversary of former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Professor Emajuddin Ahmed.
Fakhrul also raised questions over the proposed referendum, saying his party was not consulted on some issues, including proportional representation in the upper house of parliament.
“We have never agreed to proportional representation in the upper house. I had said at the time that the nation was being deceived,” he said.
He claimed that recommendations brought forward by reform commissions were made without BNP’s consent, adding that the July Charter states that the elected government would implement the commitments according to its election manifesto.
“We are committed to implementing the July Charter just as we are committed to our 31-point agenda. But we want it to be implemented in the way we have proposed,” Fakhrul said.
BNP introduced major reforms, claims Fakhrul
Fakhrul said BNP had introduced major political reforms in the country, including the restoration of multiparty democracy after one-party rule and the transition from a presidential system to a parliamentary system.
He also said the caretaker government system was introduced through a constitutional amendment passed by parliament after extensive discussions.
“Whenever these issues are raised today, I believe they are being used to confuse the people,” he said.
The BNP secretary general alleged that some opposition figures were making provocative statements to create public confusion, but said people would ultimately make the right decision.
BNP wants constitutional amendments, not reforms
On the debate over constitutional reform, Fakhrul said BNP has always advocated amendments to the constitution rather than a complete overhaul.
“We have always said that we want constitutional amendments. We have never talked about constitutional reform,” he said.
He said BNP received a mandate from voters based on its election manifesto and secured a two-thirds majority to carry out its responsibilities.
July Charter should not be used for political gains
Fakhrul alleged that the opposition was trying to use the July Charter as a means to gain political power.
“We do not want July to become another tool for gaining power. The July movement was not limited to July alone; it was the outcome of a long struggle against fascism over the past 18 to 19 years,” he said.
He said BNP had made significant sacrifices during the movement, claiming that millions of party activists faced false cases, many leaders and activists were subjected to enforced disappearance, and thousands were killed while resisting what he described as fascist rule.
Calls for inclusive democratic politics
Fakhrul said BNP wants to move towards a liberal democratic system and avoid divisive politics.
“Why should we move away from democracy? Let us remain within democracy and work together,” he said.
Recalling the Liberation War, the anti-Ershad movement and the July uprising, he called for collective efforts to build a democratic Bangladesh.
He acknowledged that solving the country’s challenges would not be easy, saying the process would require patience and sustained efforts.
Referring to Professor Emajuddin Ahmed, Fakhrul said they would follow his path of democracy and liberal democratic values to build a truly democratic country.
The memorial meeting was chaired by former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Professor Anwarullah Chowdhury.
Among others, Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Kamrul Ahsan, Professor Abdul Latif Masud of the Emajuddin Ahmed Research Centre, Jugantor Editor and poet Abdul Hai Shikder, National Press Club President Hasan Hafiz, and several academics and journalists spoke at the event.
The programme ended with a special prayer seeking eternal peace for Professor Emajuddin Ahmed.
