July Charter a social contract, says Prof Riaz

Vice Chair of the National Consensus Commission Prof Ali Riaz on Friday said the July National Charter 2025 is a social contract among citizens, political parties and the state.

“This National Charter is not merely an accord among political parties—it is a social contract between citizens, the political parties and the State,” he said while addressing the much-hyped signing ceremony of the Charter at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.

The historic political accord, the ‘July National Charter 2025’, was signed by major political parties and alliances, alongside Chief Adviser and NCC head Prof Muhammad Yunus, in a landmark effort to reform the State structure following the 2024 mass uprising.

Prof Riaz said the historic charter, which comprises 84 major reform recommendations and a seven-point implementation commitment, was the outcome of sacrifices made by those who lost their lives or were injured during the July-August 2024 movement.

“The July-August Mass Uprising reflected the long-held public aspiration for comprehensive State reform,” he added.

“We believe that the journey toward reforming the State will not be achieved in a day. A document alone cannot guarantee success. We hope that this national document must be implemented and that it will be executed quickly,” he said.

The NCC vice chair said the path still may be long, and differences of opinion will remain—but differences are part of democracy.

Noting that the national unity must lie in the greater vision, he said, “There may be differences of opinion and path. But we must unite in one place.”

He said many streams converge into one estuary. “So we can say that there is one estuary of our streams -- that is, creating a democratic Bangladesh,” said Prof Riaz.

A total of 25 political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), Gono Odhikar Parishad, Nagorik Oikya, Ganosamhati Andolon, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party participated in the signing ceremony.

National Citizen Party (NCP) and seven left-leaning parties, however, opted to boycott the event. A total of 33 political parties were involved in the discussions held to prepare the July National Charter.

Two representatives from each participating party signed the July Charter, a historic document of political consensus—before Chief Adviser and NCC head Prof Muhammad Yunus placed his signature to formalise the reform accord.

On behalf of BNP, Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed signed the reform charter, while Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher and Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar inked it for their party.

The Chief Adviser addressed the event that started with the national anthem around 4:30pm.