Dhaka: Chief Adviser and Chairman of the National Consensus Commission Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, members of the commission, and leaders of different political parties signed the July National Charter at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban here this afternoon. Presided over by the chief adviser with participation from leaders of 25 political parties, the ceremony began at 4:25 pm with a ceremonial parade, followed by the national anthem sung in chorus.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, commission members Justice Md. Emdadul Haque, Safar Raj Hossain, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, and Dr. Md. Ayub Mia were present at the ceremony, conducted by Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haidar. At 5:05 pm, two representatives from each political party, along with the Commission’s Vice-Chairman and members, signed the charter. Shortly thereafter, at 5:07 pm, the Chief Adviser signed the charter, which was then displayed to the attendees.
The event was attended by advisers of the interim government, representatives from various political parties, senior officers of the armed forces, senior journalists, lawyers, teachers from different educational institutions, and distinguished guests from home and abroad. The Commission’s Vice-Chairman, Professor Dr. Ali Riaz, delivered the welcome address at the beginning of the event, while the Chief Adviser addressed the gathering after the signing.
The ceremony concluded with a short documentary screening on enforced disappearances, killings, and the Shapla Massacre that occurred during the last 16 years of autocratic rule. The 40-page dossier accompanying the charter outlines the political history of Bangladesh, including significant events such as the British colonial period, the Language Movement of 1952, and the Liberation War of 1971.
The charter highlights the return to democracy through the 1979 parliamentary elections following the reintroduction of a multi-party system in 1978. However, it also critiques the dominance of autocratic practices between 2009 and 2024 and the controversial elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024. These events, the charter argues, have undermined the electoral system and facilitated corruption.
The document also reflects on democratic movements over the past 16 years, including the 2018 road safety movement and the student-led anti-discrimination movement, culminating in the mass uprising against fascism in July 2024. It concludes with a seven-point commitment urging political representatives to honor the will of the people as expressed in the 2024 uprising, grounded in democratic principles and national consensus.