Dhaka:
Controversial teacher and public speaker Asif Mahtab Utshah has called for a ‘No’ vote on the proposed July Charter, alleging that several of its provisions conceal long-term Western ideological agendas under the guise of state reform.
In a recently circulated video message on social media, Asif Mahtab expressed concern that Article 84 of the July Charter, which proposes Bangladesh’s accession to the Open Government Partnership (OGP), could eventually be used to justify the imposition of Western cultural norms, including the promotion of LGBT rights.
Displaying documents during the video, he claimed that OGP’s global agenda includes advocacy for LGBT-related policies. “Those who participated in the July movement did not shed blood for Open Government Partnership or homosexuality,” he said, questioning the relevance of such commitments to the original goals of the movement.
Concerns Over Terminology Like ‘Social Justice’ and ‘Inclusive’
Asif Mahtab also criticized the Charter’s core principles, particularly the use of terms such as “social justice,” “human dignity,” and “inclusive education.” While acknowledging that the terms appear benign, he argued that in Western political discourse they function as “umbrella concepts” encompassing LGBT rights, gender ideology, and radical social reforms.
Citing explanations generated by artificial intelligence platforms and referencing Islamic scholars, he warned that these terms could later be interpreted in ways that contradict the religious beliefs of Bangladesh’s majority population. According to him, many political and Islamic parties fail to grasp the broader implications of such language.
Constitutional Implications Raise Alarm
The educator further cautioned that if the July Charter is adopted and incorporated into the Constitution, its provisions would become part of the supreme law of the land, making them immune to challenge through ordinary legislation or religious considerations.
“Once these clauses enter the Constitution, there will be no legal way to resist them,” he said, adding that attractive terminology is being used to embed irreversible changes into the legal framework.
Criticism of Islamic Political Parties
Asif Mahtab also took aim at Islamic political parties, accusing them of failing to ensure the inclusion of the word ‘Islam’ in the Charter’s fundamental principles. He argued that had Islam been established as the supreme normative framework, all conflicting Western norms would have been automatically invalidated.
Drawing parallels with Bangladesh’s post-1971 experience, he claimed that secularism, once introduced as a neutral concept, later facilitated sustained erosion of religious values—warning that a similar outcome could follow under the banner of “social justice” today.
Call for Public Awareness
Concluding his address, Asif Mahtab urged citizens not to support the July Charter blindly and reiterated his decision to vote against it. He maintained that preventing authoritarianism does not require the Charter and alleged that it represents a long-term ideological blueprint that could undermine the moral and cultural foundations of future generations.
The July Charter, proposed as a framework for state reform, continues to generate intense debate across political, religious, and civil society circles, with supporters and critics sharply divided over its intent and implications.
