Fakhrul Slams Opposition over July Charter Claims, Affirms BNP's Reform Pledge

Accusing rival political groups of intentionally confusing the public regarding the implementation of the landmark July National Charter, BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir firmly stated that his party remains fully dedicated to executing the historic agreement. 

He criticized the opposition's aggressive posturing, pointing out that certain factions are asserting that the issue will be dragged onto the streets for agitation if the charter's mandates are not enacted inside Parliament.

The senior minister delivered these observations while addressing a memorial program jointly organized by the Professor Emaz Uddin Ahmed Research Center and the Jatiya Sangbadik Samity at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the sixth death anniversary of the eminent political scientist and former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor. 

The session concluded with a collective prayer seeking eternal peace for the soul of the deceased scholar.

Addressing the ongoing debates surrounding national constitutional adjustments, the BNP leader took aim at specific structural recommendations put forward by the state's Reform Commission. 

He noted that regarding the referendum being discussed, the BNP was never consulted on parts of it. 

He reemphasized that the party has repeatedly stated it never agreed to proportional representation in the upper house of parliament. 

Recalling his immediate reaction when those components were unveiled, the minister noted that he himself issued a statement at that time saying that the nation had been deceived, explicitly charging that the Reform Commission introduced those proposals without their consent.

He argued that a careful assessment of the text itself exposes the flaws in the opposition’s narrative. 

He noted that if people read the July Charter carefully, they would see that it clearly states the party elected to government will implement it in accordance with its election manifesto. 

Reaffirming his party's stance, he explained that they have consistently said this, and they remain committed. 

Just as they are committed to their 31-point reform agenda, they are equally committed to implementing the July Charter. 

However, they intend to do so in the way they have proposed, meaning that the opposition is completely misrepresenting their position by claiming that they do not want to implement the July Charter.

Defending his party's historical legacy as a pioneering force for democratic evolution, the secretary general questioned the credentials of contemporary critics. 

He asked who introduced reforms in this country, pointing out that it was the BNP that brought multi-party democracy in place of one-party rule and historically transitioned the country from a presidential system of government to a parliamentary system. 

He also recalled how party lawmakers worked throughout the night in Parliament to pass the caretaker government provision, adding that when these issues are raised today, he believes they are being used to mislead the public.

He further observed that many in the opposition are deliberately making sensational remarks in an attempt to provoke the public. 

Dismissing these efforts as ineffective, he stated that no one understands better than the people themselves, who are fully capable of judging what the party has proposed regarding constitutional amendments. 

Clarifying the technical boundaries of their legislative goals, he noted that the current debate centers on constitutional reform versus constitutional amendment, emphasizing that they have always said they want to amend the Constitution and have never said they want to rewrite or fundamentally reform it.

The LGRD minister noted that the electorate had explicitly endorsed their political roadmap during the national polls. 
The people have given them their mandate based on their election manifesto, and with a two-thirds majority, the BNP has been entrusted with the responsibility of governing the state. 

Therefore, he stated that he does not believe there is any room for confusion on this issue. 

He sharply warned against trivializing the legacy of the popular uprising, alleging that the opposition is trying to use the July Charter merely as a means of gaining power. 

He underlined that they do not want the July Charter to become just another political tool for obtaining power.

Reflecting on the severe personal sacrifices endured by party workers under the previous autocratic regime, he addressed long-standing external criticism by stating that many people make various allegations against the BNP. 

In response, he pointed out that six million BNP supporters have faced false cases, around 1,700 leaders and activists have been disappeared, and thousands of BNP members have been killed while fighting against fascism. 

He stressed that they have to keep reminding people of these facts because some are trying to create confusion.

Looking toward the future, the leader made a strong call for national unity and the preservation of a democratic culture, asking why anyone would want to move away from liberal democracy. 

Questioning what problem the nation could possibly have with democracy, he urged all factions to remain committed to democracy and avoid divisive politics. 

He concluded by drawing parallels to past national struggles, noting that just as citizens united to achieve independence in 1971, fought against the Ershad dictatorship, and in 2024 waged the final struggle against fascism, they have now created a democratic environment. 

He expressed confidence that if they work together, they can take the country to the place they have long aspired to reach.

The commemorative discussion was presided over by former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Anwar Ullah Chowdhury. 

Other notable speakers who addressed the gathering included Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Kamrul Ahsan and Professor Abdul Latif Masud, the convener of the Professor Emaz Uddin Ahmed Research Center.