NCP finally signs July Charter

The Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) has formally signed the July National Charter, ending months of uncertainty over its position on the landmark political reform document.

A six-member NCP delegation signed the charter on Monday evening at around 6 pm at the Jamuna residence of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. 

The signing event took place in presence of the chief adviser, making NCP’s official entry into the broad national consensus framework.

On behalf of NCP, party convener Nahid Islam and member secretary Akhtar Hossain signed the July National Charter. 

Senior figures present at the ceremony included National Consensus Commission co-vice chair Professor Ali Riaz, commission member Badiul Alam Majumdar, and the chief adviser’s special assistant Monir Haider.

The NCP delegation also included central leaders Sarwar Tushar, Monira Sharmin, Javed Rasin, and Zahirul Islam Musa.

Speaking to reporters after leaving Jamuna, Nahid Islam said NCP had signed the charter while maintaining its position on notes of dissent raised by other political parties. 

He acknowledged that NCP was the last party to sign the document but stressed that the delay did not reflect a lack of commitment.

“Although we signed the July Charter at the final stage, we have been among the most active in working toward its implementation,” he said.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, addressing the occasion, said the July National Charter must serve as a guiding document in building a humane and inclusive Bangladesh. 

He emphasized the need for constant vigilance so that every step taken under the charter contributes to democratic governance and social justice.

The July National Charter is the outcome of more than seven months of dialogue led by the National Consensus Commission with 33 political parties and alliances. 

The charter was formally unveiled and signed on October 17 last year at a ceremony held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka. On that day, 24 political parties signed the document, with one more joining later.

NCP did not attend the original signing ceremony and subsequently refrained from endorsing the charter, though the commission had made it clear that parties could sign at a later stage. At the time, NCP publicly placed three conditions for signing.

First, it demanded that the draft of the July National Charter Implementation Order be made public before any signing and that the order be issued by the chief adviser. 

Second, it argued that once the charter received approval through a referendum, any notes of dissent would become invalid. 

Third, it called for the next elected parliament to exercise its constituent authority to amend the constitution in line with the referendum outcome and rename it the Constitution of Bangladesh 2026.

Subsequently, on November 13, the president promulgated the July National Charter Implementation Order 2025. Under this order, a nationwide referendum was held on February 12 on 48 constitutional reform proposals out of a total of 84 reform recommendations outlined in the charter. 

The referendum delivered a decisive victory for the yes vote, effectively clearing the way for implementation of the proposed reforms.