”The July Charter Will Hold Supreme Authority; Cannot Be Challenged in Court

The National Consensus Commission has circulated the full draft of the “July National Charter 2025” to all political parties in Bangladesh. This historic charter—aimed at fundamental reforms of the state and governance—contains 84 proposals and 8 solemn pledges. Several parties confirmed receipt of the draft on 16 August at 9 PM (BD time).

The charter asserts that "the people are the true owners of the state; their will is the supreme law." Reflecting this principle, all parties have jointly endorsed the charter. According to the draft, all its provisions and decisions will be incorporated into the constitution, and if there is any conflict between the charter and existing constitutional or legal provisions, the charter’s provisions shall take precedence.

Moreover, the charter stipulates that any interpretative dispute over its recommendations will fall under the final jurisdiction of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. It also clearly states that the charter's validity or authority cannot be challenged in any court, since it is to be considered constitutionally and legally binding.

Key Pledges Outlined in the Charter:

• Enact necessary amendments and rewrites in the constitution, judiciary, election system, and administration.
• Grant state recognition to the historical importance of the 2024 mass uprising.
• Provide justice for the killings during the uprising, confer state honors on martyrs, and support affected families while ensuring medical care and rehabilitation for the injured.
• Implement immediately viable proposals prior to the next national parliamentary election without delay.

Javed Rasin, Co-convenor of the N.C.P., expressed disappointment, stating:
“We are disappointed again. There is no clear timeline or method for implementation. While some proposals say they will be implemented before the election, exactly which proposals and how remains unclear.” He urged the commission to reconvene with political parties to resolve these ambiguities.

Badiul Alam Mozumdar, a member of the commission, responded:
“This is only a preliminary draft. We plan to consult legal experts, specialists, and political parties to decide on the method of implementation. Based on these discussions, we will add or refine elements in the draft and finalize the charter.”