July National Charter Published as Draft

The National Consensus Commission has published the draft of July Charter for the general people. The charter would contain a pledge by different political parties to reform state institutions with a view to pre-empting a return of fascist rule in the country.

To this end, the draft has already been sent to the political parties for finalizing it. The draft does not contain the state reform measures unanimously supported by all the active political parties, as the talks are still ongoing.

The political consensus regarding potential reforms in the constitution, election process, judiciary, public administration, police force, and Anti-Corruption Commission will be included later in the fifth segment of the charter, it was said in the draft.

The draft includes five different sub-heads to outline the state reform initiative undertaken by the Prof Yunus-led interim administration since assuming power on 8 August last year. The draft also contains seven pledges by the political parties for implementing the agreed upon state reform measures under the upcoming elected parliament.

The five sub-heads regarding state reform initiative relate to the charter’s background, formation of six state reform commissions by the interim government, formation of National Consensus Commission, the activities of the National Consensus Commission in engaging with political parties, and finally the state reform measures.

In the background, the draft upholds “Equality, Human Dignity and Social Justice” as the three core motives behind the Liberation War of 1971 that freed present-day Bangladesh from the clutches of Pakistani tyranny.

Notably, it does not include “secularism” as a founding principle amid widespread criticisms that the fascist Awami League government used the term to serve Indian interests and undermine the valid aspirations of the country’s dominant Muslim community.

Then, the draft notes that the goals of “Equality, Human Dignity and Social Justice” remain far from being met 53 years after gaining independence with different individuals and ruling parties consistently eroding state institutions for their own benefits.

The crisis reached a climax after 2009 general polls as the elected Awami League government moved to “sustainably” constrict all dissenting voices. The fascist government amended the National Constitution arbitrarily to help it stage rigged elections, and undemocratically prolong hold on power for over 15 years.

In July-August last year, the fascist regime was ousted in a movement that left over 1,400 unarmed civilians, including women and children, killed and more than 20,000 wounded. The successful uprising gifted a historic opportunity to rectify state institutions for the better, the draft of July Charter states.

Under the second sub-head, the draft elaborates the formation of the interim government on 8 August last year, and its endorsement by the Supreme Court at the request of the President. In October, the government formed six reform commissions for preparing a comprehensive state reform plan, it is said under the second sub-head.

The six reform commissions sent their proposals to the government on 31 January. Under the third sub-heading, the draft details the formation of the National Consensus Commission in February this year, and the commission’s activities have been detailed under the fourth sub-head.