Nahid Islam, Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has stated that the implementation of the July Charter must be resolved by August 5 and emphasized that the responsibility for the reform process will not be handed over to the newly elected parliament.
He insisted that the Charter be enacted during the tenure of the interim government.
Speaking at a press conference held on Saturday at the NCP’s central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, Nahid said, “We have long demanded that the July Charter be given legal standing. It must be implemented during the interim government’s tenure.”
“The next general election must be held based on the July Charter. We will not allow the reform process to be deferred to the elected parliament. Rather, the next parliament and the constituent assembly must be formed on the basis of the July Charter. Its execution must begin under the interim administration,” he asserted.
Nahid added that the government has informed them that the final declaration of the Charter will be unveiled on August 5, and the NCP welcomes this initiative.
“At the same time, we have demanded that the modalities of implementing the July Charter be finalized by August 5. As you know, there is broad consensus on the Charter, though some disagreements remain. The Consensus Commission has yet to clarify how it intends to resolve the contested issues. We have asked for clarity on the mechanism of implementation. That aspect remains unaddressed. Once resolved, all parties will formally sign the July Charter.”
Nahid further announced that the NCP’s nationwide “July March” will formally conclude with a rally on Sunday afternoon at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.
“There, we will present our programs for building a new Bangladesh and lay out our political vision. Alongside the demand for the July Charter, we will also push for judicial reforms and a new constitution,” he said.
As one of the front-line leaders of last year’s uprising, Nahid recalled that it was from the Central Shaheed Minar, on August 3, 2024, that the one-point demand for the fall of the government and the dismantling of the fascist order was first proclaimed.
“But although the regime has fallen, the fascist system still remains in place,” he said.
“We have consistently maintained in NCP rallies that despite the ouster of the fascist government, the broader fascist structure still survives. That is why the struggle to build a new Bangladesh must continue.”
