Dhaka — National Citizens Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Saturday sharply criticized the recent signing of the July Charter, calling it a “mere formality” that ignored the true spirit of Bangladesh’s mass uprising and failed to include voices from the people’s movement.
Speaking at a press conference at the NCP headquarters in Bangla Motor, he said the event distanced its organizers from the spirit of the July protests that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government last year. “Those who attended the signing ceremony have separated themselves from the people,” he said. “We call upon them to return to the people.”
Nahid argued that without a legal framework to support it, the Charter could become “an act of deception and a mockery of the people.” He said the signing risked repeating the mistakes made after the 1990 mass uprising, when political consensus collapsed once the old order fell.
A divided response to the July Charter
The July Charter, signed by more than two dozen political parties earlier this month, was presented by the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as a national reform pact — meant to steer Bangladesh toward a new democratic structure after the overthrow of Hasina’s long-ruling Awami League.
But the agreement has already drawn criticism from several groups that helped drive the July 2024 uprising, including student leaders and left-leaning movements. They argue that the ceremony excluded those who risked their lives during the protests and that the process lacked transparency and legal authority.
Nahid said that political transformation cannot rest on “ceremonial signatures” or symbolic gestures. “Our struggle against fascism is not about trust between political allies,” he said. “It is about ensuring that constitutional change has a solid legal foundation.”
He alleged that both local and foreign actors were attempting to prevent amendments to the 1972 Constitution to maintain “an entrenched authoritarian system.” Certain political parties, he added, had “compromised to keep that structure intact.”
Legitimacy and leadership
The NCP leader argued that only Dr Muhammad Yunus, as head of the interim government, has the moral authority to issue a constitutional order legitimizing the July Charter. “The current president cannot represent the spirit of the uprising,” Nahid said. “Any constitutional order issued by him would lack political legitimacy.”
He proposed a phased approach to constitutional reform — beginning with an order from Yunus, followed by a referendum, the formation of an elected parliament, and finally a constituent assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution.
Remembering the uprising’s martyrs
Nahid also condemned the Charter ceremony for failing to recognize the sacrifices of protesters who were killed during the July uprising. “The July fighters and the families of martyrs were disrespected. The event did not reflect the aspirations of the people,” he said.
He reaffirmed that the uprising was not a movement against any single leader or party. “The July revolution was not directed only at Sheikh Hasina or the Awami League,” he said. “It was aimed at dismantling a system of authoritarianism. Changing political leadership alone will not solve Bangladesh’s democratic crisis.”
NCP’s role in reform efforts
Nahid explained that after the mass uprising, the NCP had entrusted the responsibility for reform to Professor Yunus and other anti-fascist groups. When they declined to act, he said, the NCP decided to enter the political process directly, eventually forming a party to carry forward the demands for structural change.
While many parties joined the government-led signing event, Nahid noted that several of them continue to call for legal validation — a sign, he said, that unity among pro-reform forces remains intact. “We will support any party or government that works toward building a new democratic Bangladesh,” he said. “But if none do, we will continue this struggle alone.”
A growing debate over Bangladesh’s future
Nahid’s remarks underscore widening divisions among groups that once stood united against Hasina’s rule. While the interim government views the July Charter as a blueprint for national reform, the NCP and other critics see it as a political instrument that risks consolidating power without accountability.
With the interim administration facing mounting pressure to hold elections by early 2026, the legitimacy of the Charter — and the process of constitutional change — will shape whether Bangladesh’s post-uprising transition produces genuine democracy or a reconfigured version of the old order.
