Desk Report,
BNP supports state recognition of July Charter and Declaration, not constitutional recognition
BNP wants not only constitutional recognition of the July Charter and the July Declaration, but also state recognition. Sources say that the party’s policy-making leaders believe that if the July Charter and the July Declaration after the mass uprising of 24 are given constitutional recognition, there may be controversy or complications in the future. Because, if such a mass uprising takes place against any autocratic government in the future, then a demand for constitutional recognition may also arise.
BNP supports state recognition of July Charter and Declaration, not constitutional recognition
The leaders expressed this opinion at the meeting of the National Standing Committee, the highest policy-making body of the BNP, on Monday night, according to responsible sources.
The meeting was held on the draft of the July National Charter-2025 and the final draft of the July Declaration sent by the National Consensus Commission. The meeting began at 8 pm and lasted until 12:45 am. The meeting decided to give state recognition to the July Charter and the July Declaration. The meeting held at the political office of the BNP Chairperson in Gulshan was presided over by the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman. He joined virtually from London. BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters on Monday that they are in broad agreement with the draft. BNP agrees on the pledge. BNP will inform the Commission of its observations on the wording and sentence structure.
BNP sources said that on Tuesday night, some additions and deletions to the draft of the July Charter and the July Declaration were made and the party’s opinion was conveyed to the Commission.
Clause 7 of the draft of the July Charter sent by the National Consensus Commission to the political parties states, ‘We will be committed to giving due recognition to the historical significance of the 2024 anti-discrimination and democratic movement and the mass uprising in the constitution.’ Point 6 states, “After the adoption of this charter, I promise to ensure the implementation of the proposals/recommendations contained in it within the two-year period of government formation through the next national election.”
The leaders of the BNP Standing Committee believe that the agreed reform proposals or recommendations can be implemented within the two-year period of government formation. However, they have disagreements about giving constitutional recognition to the July Charter. Apart from this, they agree with the remaining six-point commitment of the draft July Charter. Regarding the July Declaration, the BNP’s opinion is that if it is given constitutional recognition, the question of constitutional recognition of other past events such as the mass uprising against the dictator Ershad in 1990 and mass uprisings in the future will also arise. This may increase the complexity. Apart from that, the Declaration of Independence of 1971 was not included in the constitution drafted in 1972 until 2011. That year, it was added to the Seventh Schedule, which was challenged by a case.
In this situation, BNP considers it unnecessary to separately add the July Declaration to the constitution. Rather, the party’s policy-making leaders are in favor of preserving the 2024 mass uprising declaration in the state archives as a ‘political document’.
A member of the BNP standing committee, who did not want to be named, told Prothom Alo that there is no need to include a revolution in the constitution. Therefore, BNP wants to stick to the state recognition of the July Charter and the July Declaration.
However, BNP had previously stated that they want to add the July Declaration to the Fourth Schedule of the constitution. Not the entire declaration, but a paragraph will mention the declaration as recognition of the coup.
It is learned that the BNP standing committee has discussed the final draft of the declaration in detail. The party has made some wording and linguistic changes, including including the issue of the declaration of independence on March 26.
Another member of the BNP standing committee told Prothom Alo about the July Declaration, ‘We (BNP) have finished expressing our opinions. We will not give any more opinions on what we have given.’
Relevant leaders said that BNP does not want to discuss the July declaration anymore. However
