NCP won't take part in JS polls without July Charter's implementation: Nahid

NCP to Boycott National Election Without July Charter Implementation: Nahid

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has firmly declared that his party will not participate in the upcoming national election unless the widely discussed July Charter is implemented beforehand.

He made the remarks on Thursday while speaking to reporters in Syedpur upazila of Nilphamari, following his visit to the grave of Sajjad Hossain, who was martyred during the July Mass Uprising.

“If the July Charter’s recommendations are not implemented before the polls, we will boycott the election,” said Nahid, who also served as an adviser to the interim government.

Meanwhile, National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz stated on 29 June that he remained optimistic about finalising the July Charter, based on the consensus achieved among all political parties on 16 July last year — the martyrdom day of Shaheed Abu Sayed.

Chief Adviser Prof Mohammad Yunus had earlier stated that the future governance of Bangladesh would be guided by the principles outlined in the July Charter.

Nahid noted that his party members launched a Road March from the country’s northern region on Thursday, with the aim of building a new Bangladesh free from corruption and discrimination at all levels.

The programme will soon expand nationwide to raise public awareness about the threat of resurgent fascism, said Nahid, who is also a key coordinator of Students Against Discrimination.

He said the fascist regime met its downfall during the July Mass Uprising, but its remnants continue to conspire against the state.

Calling on his party members to carry forward the spirit of the uprising, Nahid urged them to remain committed until their goals are fully achieved.

He reiterated that, in line with the interim government's vision, the July Charter is expected to serve as a Magna Carta for Bangladesh’s transition away from autocracy, political hypocrisy, criminalisation, and corporate dominance in Parliament.

The National Consensus Commission has been tasked with finalising the July Charter — a national reform document based on multi-party agreement. Once signed, political parties would pledge to implement its reform agenda.

However, with the national election scheduled for a week before Ramadan in February next year, the commission has yet to officially unveil the charter.