‘JS to be illegitimate if July Charter not implemented’

National Citizen Party (NCP) Northern Region Chief Organizer Sarjis Alam has said that the election, parliament, and government would all be illegitimate if the July Charter is not implemented and constitutional reforms are not carried out.

He made the remarks while addressing an Eid reunion and joining ceremony as the chief guest at Chengarchar Government High School field in Matlab North Upazila of Chandpur on Friday afternoon.

Sarjis Alam said that the parliamentary election was held based on commitments made on several key issues, one of which was the implementation of the July Charter.

He further alleged that the BNP government had increased fuel prices twice, gas prices four times, and electricity prices twice during its previous tenure. He also claimed that the party had failed to curb extortion, killings, and terrorist activities.

“To remain in power in Bangladesh, a government must be people-friendly. Otherwise, the people will resist you,” he said.

Sarjis Alam warned that another mass uprising could occur if the July Charter is not implemented and constitutional reforms are not undertaken.

Speaking at the event, NCP Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said that they had hoped for an election that would deliver a new Bangladesh, free from extortionists in parliament.

“Unfortunately, that did not happen. The BNP came to power through an engineered election. Extortion is taking place at CNG and bus terminals. This is not the country we wanted,” he alleged.

Patwary also said that no matter how much political actors attempt to delay or complicate the reform process, the people of Bangladesh will ultimately demand accountability for reforms.

“Due to the lack of reforms, citizens continue to suffer in accessing state services. Therefore, constitutional reform is a necessity,” he added.

The event was chaired by Arifa Tuhin, Convener of NCP’s Matlab North Upazila unit, and moderated by Member Secretary Imadul Islam.

Among others, Joint General Secretary Nizam Uddin of the central committee, Joint Convener Md Idris Ali, Ishrat Jahan Bindu, and Professor Dewan Abul Bashar, Ameer of the local Jamaat-e-Islami unit, also addressed the gathering.