Staff Reporter :
Political parties will still have the opportunity to sign the historic July National Charter-2025 even after the official signing ceremony scheduled for Friday, Vice-President of the National Consensus Commission Ali Riaz said at a press conference on Thursday.
Speaking at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Ali Riaz emphasized that the signing process is part of the democratic framework and all parties have been invited to participate.
“If all signatures are not collected by tomorrow, those willing to sign later will still be able to join the process as partners,” he said, highlighting the inclusive nature of the initiative.
The vice-president also underscored the symbolic importance of the event. “We want the signing ceremony to take place in a festive atmosphere. This achievement has come at the cost of many lives,” he said.
Regarding the conditional stance of the National Citizen Party (NCP), Ali Riaz said the commission had reviewed their concerns.
“The NCP played a leading role in the July Uprising and contributed significantly to the preparation of the charter. We believe they will eventually sign and play a key role in its implementation,” he stated.
On the refusal of four leftist parties to sign the charter over certain recommendations, he added, “They were part of the discussions and have submitted notes of dissent, as have others. But I believe they will reconsider their position and eventually sign.”
When asked about the charter’s validity if some parties abstain, Ali Riaz said the entire dialogue process had been transparent and broadcast live for the nation. “We have advanced in a way that allowed all parties to publicly express their positions before the nation,” he said.
Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, also present at the press conference, said the real work will begin after the signing. “It will be taken to every corner of the country so that people understand how the charter will shape our nation’s future,” he said.
The signing ceremony, to be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban around 4 pm on Friday, will be graced by Chief Adviser and Chairman of the seven-member National Consensus Commission, Professor Muhammad Yunus.
Ahead of the event, an emergency meeting was convened at the Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday evening, attended by leaders of various political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Gono Songhoti Andolon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, JSD (Rab), and Biplobi Workers Party.
The July National Charter-2025 is a 40-page document outlining Bangladesh’s political history, from the British colonial period and the 1952 Language Movement to the mass uprising of July 2024.
It reflects on landmark events including the 1970 general elections, the 1971 Liberation War, the establishment of a one-party state in 1975, and the democratic path followed after 1979.
The charter also highlights the challenges faced by democracy between 2009 and 2024, including controversial elections, politicization of state institutions, and corruption.
Additionally, it chronicles democratic movements over the last 16 years, including the 2018 road safety movement, anti-quota protests, student-led anti-discrimination movements, and the broad-based mass uprising of July 2024.
The charter concludes with a seven-point commitment, urging political party representatives to uphold the will of the people expressed in the July 2024 uprising, grounded in democratic principles and national consensus.
Ali Riaz expressed hope that all parties will eventually sign, emphasizing that the charter represents a historic milestone in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
