Signing of July Charter is just a formality, without legal basis it will be a fraud on the people: Nahid Islam

Convenor Nahid Islam said at a press conference held at the temporary office of the Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) in Bangla Motor in the capital on Saturday afternoon that the July Charter is just a formality. He said, “If it has no legal basis, then it will have no value or meaning. We did not participate in this formality. Without a legal basis, it will be a fraud on the people and a farce with the nation.” Senior leaders of the party, including NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain, were present at the press conference.

Nahid Islam said that even after the mass uprising in 1990, the political agreement according to the outline of the three-party alliance was not preserved. To change an important issue like the constitution, there needs to be a legal basis. He mentioned, “Various attempts are being made in the country and abroad to ensure that the 1972 constitution remains intact and the old fascist structure persists.”

He alleged that some political parties have compromised due to pressure from the beneficiaries of the fascist structure. However, due to pressure from the National Citizens Party and some political parties and the student masses who participated in the 1990 uprising, the government has moved forward with the formation of the Consensus Commission, the reform process and the July Charter.

Nahid Islam said, “We do not want a repeat of the 1990s in Bangladesh. Our fight is not only against Sheikh Hasina or the Awami League, but also against the fascist system. The problem will not be solved by changing the political leadership, it will have to go through reforms.” He also mentioned the July fighters involved in the clash with the police yesterday.

At the press conference, Akhtar Hossain said that the NCP will hold a program on the streets demanding a legal basis for the July Charter. He said, “We played a strong role in the Consensus Commission. Initially, many political parties were in favor of keeping the July Charter only as a document of political compromise.”

Yesterday, after being evicted from the stage of the July Charter signing ceremony at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, the ‘July Warriors’ clashed with police on Manik Mia Avenue. The situation calmed down after two hours of back-and-forth fighting. At least 27 people from both sides were injured.

In the end, 24 political parties and alliances, Professor Muhammad Yunus and members of the National Consensus Commission signed the July National Charter 2025, a document of new political agreement. However, the National Citizens Party (NCP), which led the July coup, and four leftist parties—CPB, BSD, BSD (Marxist) and Bangladesh JSD—did not sign the charter. The Gono Forum was also present but did not sign. They can sign the charter later if they want.