Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, along with representatives from various political parties, signed the July National Charter 2025 at the South Plaza of the National Parliament on Friday afternoon.
A total of 25 political parties and alliances took part in the signing ceremony.
Among the signatories were BNP, Jamaat, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Rastro Songskar Andolon, Nagorik Oikko, National Democratic Movement (NDM), Ganosamhati Andolon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Biplobi Workers Party, Jatiya Gnofront, Islami Andolon, Gonoforum, Zaker Party, Nezam Islam Party, Bangladesh Labour Party, Bhasani Janashakti Party, Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh, Islami Oikya Jote, Amjanatar Dal, making up 25 parties in total.
These parties pledged to implement the reform agenda proposed by the commission as outlined in the charter.
However, five parties, including National Citizen Party (NCP), Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Basad), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), and Bangladesh JaSad, did not sign the July charter.
They claimed that issues related to reforms in labour, health, and social security sectors were not given adequate attention during the commission’s discussions.
The charter includes a seven-point declaration, which all signatories committed to upholding, in line with the public will expressed during the July 2024 mass uprising.
“We, the undersigned, solemnly pledge to uphold and implement the July National Charter 2025, as a reflection of the people’s aspirations and a new political consensus forged through democratic values and national unity,” the declaration states.
Key commitments in the charter are
1. In continuation of the long struggle to reclaim the people’s rights and restore democracy, and in recognition of the thousands of lives lost and countless sacrifices made during the July–August 2024 mass uprising, we pledge to ensure the full implementation of the July National Charter 2025 as a new political agreement, drafted through a continuous process and based on national consensus, reflecting the aspirations of the people.
2. As the people are the true owners of the state and their will is the supreme law, and since in a democratic system the people’s will is generally expressed through political parties, we, the political parties and alliances through dialogue and in continuation of the long struggle to establish democracy, have collectively adopted the July National Charter 2025 as a clear expression of that will. Therefore, we will fully incorporate this charter into the Constitution, either as a new schedule or in another appropriate form.
3. We will not raise any legal challenge in court regarding the validity or necessity of the July National Charter 2025. Moreover, we will ensure legal and constitutional protection at every stage of its implementation.
4. We will provide official constitutional recognition to the people’s uninterrupted 16-year struggle for the establishment of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, particularly acknowledging the historic significance of the unprecedented mass uprising in 2024.
5. We will ensure justice for those subjected to enforced disappearances, killings, and torture during the 16-year democratic struggle against fascism prior to the mass uprising, as well as for all killings that occurred during the July–August 2024 uprising. We will provide state honours to the martyrs, appropriate support to their families, and guarantee proper medical care and rehabilitation for the injured.
6. To implement the decisions outlined in the July National Charter 2025 regarding comprehensive reforms of Bangladesh’s state systems, including the Constitution, electoral process, judiciary, public administration, policing, and anti-corruption mechanisms,we will make the necessary amendments to the Constitution and existing laws.
7. All decisions adopted by consensus in the July National Charter 2025 that can be implemented immediately will be fully executed without any delay by the interim government and other relevant authorities at the earliest possible time.
