Fakhrul says BNP committed to implementing July Charter
- Update Time : Friday, 17 July, 2026, 04:20 pm
- 16 Time View
Online Desk : BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday, July 17, reaffirmed his party’s commitment to implementing every provision of the July National Charter, accusing the opposition of trying to mislead the public by claiming otherwise. “We have always said that we want to amend the Constitution. We have never said that we want constitutional restructuring. BNP remains committed to implementing every provision of the July National Charter,” he said while addressing a discussion marking the sixth death anniversary of former Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Emajuddin Ahmed, organised by the Emajuddin Ahmed Research Centre at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka.
Fakhrul, also the local government, rural development and co-operatives minister, said BNP secured a two-thirds majority in Parliament based on the manifesto presented to the people during the election. “The people voted for us based on that manifesto. BNP has been entrusted with running the state with a two-thirds majority. So, I do not think there is any scope for confusion on this issue,” he said. Responding to recent remarks made by the opposition over the implementation of the July Charter, the BNP leader alleged that attempts were being made to mislead the public.
He said all parties that jointly participated in the anti-fascist movement had signed the July Charter together and that BNP remained committed to implementing every word of it. “We have repeatedly said that we will implement every provision of the July Charter. This is our commitment,” he said. However, Fakhrul said BNP had never agreed to some proposals, including a proportional representation system in the proposed upper house of Parliament.
He said the Reform Commission had incorporated several recommendations without BNP’s consent and said the July Charter itself clearly states that parties elected by the people will implement reforms in line with their respective election manifestos. “As we are committed to our 31-point reform agenda, we are committed to the July Charter. We will implement the Charter as we have committed to. It is completely wrong to say that we do not want to implement it,” the BNP leader said.
He also rejected criticism that the BNP opposes reforms, saying the party itself had introduced major democratic reforms in Bangladesh. “Who introduced reforms in this country? BNP did. BNP introduced multi-party democracy after one-party rule. BNP introduced the parliamentary form of government after the presidential system. BNP also enacted the caretaker government provision,” Fakhrul said.
He accused the opposition of trying to exploit the legacy of the July mass uprising for political gain. “They are trying to use July merely as a tool to come to power. We do not want July to become another instrument for political power,” he said. According to the BNP secretary general, the July uprising was not an isolated event but the culmination of nearly 18-19 years of struggle against what he termed fascist rule.
He said BNP leaders and activists had paid a heavy price during that movement. “Nearly 60 lakh BNP leaders and activists faced false cases. Around 1,700 leaders and activists disappeared, and thousands were killed while fighting against fascism,” he claimed. Turning to Bangladesh, Fakhrul said the July-August 2024 student-led mass uprising created an opportunity to establish a truly democratic and liberal democratic state after years of authoritarian rule.
He, however, acknowledged that rebuilding the country will not be easy. “The problems are complex. The accumulated problems cannot disappear overnight. We cannot fix everything instantly, but we have to move forward patiently,” he said. Paying tribute to Prof Emajuddin Ahmed, the BNP leader described him as a genuine democrat, a proponent of liberal democracy, an outstanding political scientist and a great patriot. He recalled that during the anti-fascist movement, meetings were frequently held at Emajuddin’s residence, where intellectuals were brought together to issue statements and formulate strategies in support of democracy.
