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

The charter, comprising 84 major reform recommendations and a seven-point implementation commitment, was formalised at 5:06pm at a much-hyped event held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad, amid celebrations.

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.

Among others, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki, Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur and General Secretary Rashed Khan, IAB Presidium Member Ashraf Ali Khan Akand, Bangladesher Biplobi Workers Party Secretary General Saiful Haque, AB Party President Mujibur Rahman Manju, LDP Secretary General Dr Redwan Ahmed and Gonoforum Acting President Subrata Chowdhury were present.

The Chief Adviser addressed the gathering after the signing of the charter and NCC Vice Chair Prof Ali Riaz spoke at the event moderated by Chief Adviser’s special assistant Monir Haider. The event started with the national anthem around 4:30pm. The programme was 30 minute late due to inclement weather.

Prof Ali Riaz, in his speech, said, “This National Charter is not merely an accord among political parties—it is a social contract between citizens, and the political parties and the State.”

He added this historic charter was prepared due to the sacrifices of those who lost their lives and were injured during July-August 2024, or continue to suffer as July warriors since the 2024 uprising. “The July-August Mass Uprising reflected the long-held public aspiration for comprehensive State reform,” he added.

The key reform recommendations in the July Charter include limiting a person to a maximum of 10 years’ tenure as Prime Minister in their lifetime; introducing a bicameral legislature comprising a lower house (Jatiya Sangsad) and an upper house (Senate); ensuring that the Deputy Speaker is chosen from the opposition; restoring the caretaker government system with a defined process for selecting its Chief Adviser; expanding the list of fundamental rights; amending Article 70 of the Constitution to allow MPs to vote against their party in all cases except two ones—the Finance Bill and a confidence vote; and assigning chairmanship of five key parliamentary committees to opposition MPs.

Other major proposals include making a referendum mandatory to amend provisions related to the caretaker government (Article 58) and certain other constitutional provisions—Article 8 (Fundamental Principles), Article 48 (The President), Article 56 (Ministers), and Article 142 (Constitutional Amendment). The Charter also recommends prohibiting any person from simultaneously serving as both Prime Minister and party chief, and appointing the most senior judge of the Supreme Court as Chief Justice; forming a Judicial Appointment Commission; establishing one or more permanent bench (instead of circuit bench) of the high court in every division;

Among other key recommendation are election of the president through a secret ballot by the members of the two houses; authorising the President to appoint the governor of Bangladesh Bank, Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners, and the chairmen and members of the four other bodies – National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh Press Council, Law Commission, and Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission – without prior consultation with anyone; formation of an independent police commission (the recommendation was made to make the balance of power between the President and the PM); inclusion of specific appointment process in the constitution to appoint CEC and election commissioners, the Ombudsman, Chairmen and members of three public service commissions (PSC), the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG),  and  ACC Chairman and commissioners to pick them through defined selection systems.

The charter also contains the notes of dissent and different views expressed from different political parties and alliances.

The Charter further outlines the context and formation of six reform commissions in October 2024—the Electoral Management Reform Commission, Judiciary Reform Commission, Public Administration Reform Commission, Police Reform Commission, Anti-Corruption Reform Commission, and Constitution Reform Commission.

It also details the establishment of the National Consensus Commission on February 12, 2025, tasked with developing final reform proposals through consultations with political parties and stakeholders based on the reports of the six commissions.

Initially constituted for six months, the NCC’s tenure was later extended three times, now continuing until October 31, 2025.

The NCC conducted three rounds of dialogues with 33 political parties and alliances—the first phase from March 20 to May 19, the second from June 3 to July 31 focusing on 20 key issues, and the third from September 11 to October 9 addressing the implementation framework of the July Charter.

Other political parties that participated in the signing ceremony include Khelafat Majlish, Rastro Sanskar Andolon, National Democratic Movement (NDM), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Jatiyatabadi Sammanna Jote, 12-Party Alliance, Zaker Party, Jatiya Gonofront:, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, Bangladesh Labour Party, Bhasani Janashakti Party, Jamiate Ulamaye Islam Bangladesh, Islami Oikya Jote and Amjonotar Dal.

The seven leftist parties that didn’t joined the signing event are Ganotantrik Bam Oikya, Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Bangladesh Jasod, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), Bangladesher Biplobi Communist League, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal-Basod and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Party (BSP).