Sylhet: Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Professor Ali Riaz has stated that the July Charter has been developed to permanently prevent the return of dictatorship in Bangladesh. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organized to motivate voters ahead of the upcoming referendum at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) auditorium in Sylhet, Riaz addressed the potential threats posed by the existing constitution that allow for the emergence of authoritarian rule.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Riaz emphasized that the nation had endured 16 years under personalist dictatorship and was eagerly awaiting liberation. The formulation of the July Charter is a strategic move to ensure that such dictatorships cannot arise again. He noted that while the mass uprising of July 2024 provided a semblance of freedom from fascism, this freedom would remain fragile without structural constitutional safeguards.
Riaz further explained that the successful implementation of the July Charter is contingent upon the success of the 'Yes' vote in the forthcoming referendum. In response to questions about the representation of the 'Yes' camp, Riaz asserted, "You, I, and all of us are candidates for 'Yes'. Because 'Yes' will open the way for all to build a humane and democratic Bangla."