Historic July Charter To Be Signed Today

The long-awaited and historic “July National Charter 2025” is set to be signed today.

Chief Adviser and Chairman of the seven-member National Consensus Commission (Jatiya Oaikymoto Commission), Professor Muhammad Yunus, will attend the signing ceremony as the chief guest. The event will take place at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at around 4 pm.

As part of final preparations, the Chief Adviser convened an emergency meeting at the Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday evening, which was attended by leaders of various political parties.

The 40-page charter has been distributed to political parties nationwide. It chronicles Bangladesh’s political evolution—from the British colonial era, the 1952 Language Movement, the 1962 education movements, the 1966 autonomy movement, and the 1969 mass uprising, to the 1970 general election, the 1971 Liberation War, and the establishment of a one-party state through constitutional amendments in 1975.

The document notes that “following various political developments, the country returned to democracy through the parliamentary elections of 1979, initiated by the reintroduction of a multi-party system in 1978. However, that democratic path was short-lived.”

It further observes that between 2009 and 2024, state institutions became entrenched in autocratic practices favoring certain individuals, families, and groups.

The charter criticizes the controversial elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024, stating that they eroded the electoral process, politicized the judiciary, law enforcement, and public administration, and fueled corruption.

It also reflects on the persistent democratic movements of the past 16 years, including the 2018 road safety movement, the anti-quota and anti-discrimination movements, and the mass uprising against fascism in July 2024.

The charter concludes with a seven-point pledge, calling on all political party representatives to sign the document and uphold the will of the people expressed during the July 2024 uprising, rooted in democracy, justice, and national consensus.