Abu Jakir :
The future of Bangladesh’s political transition is increasingly tied to one document: the July Charter.
Drafted after last year’s mass uprising, the Charter promised sweeping reforms to make governance more accountable and to prevent a return to authoritarianism.
But nearly three months on, the nation’s political actors remain divided over how exactly to implement it.
Major political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have announced fresh movements to push for the Charter’s implementation in their own ways.
Jamaat, along with five other Islamist and like-minded parties, has declared a new series of joint programmes to press home a five-point demand.
Among them are holding the next parliamentary elections in February 2026 under the July Charter and introducing a proportional representation system in both houses of parliament.
Meanwhile, nine parties led by Ganatantra Mancha have opened informal dialogues with various groups in search of consensus.
In two recent rounds of meetings, the bloc engaged eight parties, emphasizing the need for agreement on the method of implementation.
While electoral alliances and seat-sharing inevitably came up, leaders stressed that the central goal was ensuring the Charter takes effect in a credible and inclusive way.
“The focus must be on the method of implementation,” said Zonayed Saki, chief coordinator of Ganasamhati Andolan.
“Elections will come and go, but if the Charter is not implemented properly, the sacrifices of July will be betrayed.”
The Charter calls for restructuring constitutional institutions, curbing the political misuse of state agencies, and ensuring greater transparency.
Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman on Friday reiterated that there is “no legal barrier” to its implementation, adding that it can move forward under the framework set by the National Consensus Commission.
“During the Awami League period, all constitutional bodies were made ineffective,” he said. “Officials not guilty of serious wrongdoing will continue, but those who acted on political orders must face justice.”
Civic groups are also making the Charter their rallying point. At a discussion hosted by the Bangladesh Islami Samonnoy Parishad in Dhaka, speakers demanded timely elections under the interim government and warned that bypassing the Charter would risk fresh unrest.
“If the Charter is sidelined, we will face another uprising,” said council chairman Dr. S.M. Sarwar. “The Charter must be implemented through dialogue, with reasonable adjustments if necessary.”
Yet differences remain. Left-wing leaders such as CPB General Secretary Abdullah Kafee Ratan said they support the Charter’s reformist vision but see little possibility of coalition with right-leaning groups.
Others, including AB Party chairman Mujibul Rahman, confirmed outreach to BNP and Jamaat leaders, saying that broad consensus on implementation could pave the way for wider cooperation.
For many observers, the July Charter has become more than a policy framework; it is seen as a litmus test of Bangladesh’s ability to transform a street-driven uprising into a durable democratic transition.
The interim government has pledged elections within the promised timeframe, but civic and political leaders warn that unless the Charter is embedded in that process, the transition risks unraveling.
“The youth who gave their lives in July demanded systemic change,” said Lokman Hossain Jafri of Islami Andolan. “If that demand is ignored, their dream will remain unfinished.”
