Proposal to include July Charter in Constitution ‘misleading’: Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has termed the proposal to incorporate the July Charter or July Declaration into the fundamental principles of the Constitution as “misleading.”

He said, “BNP has accepted many aspects of the July Charter. But why should it be included in the fundamental principles? Reforms will continue to take place over time. Reform is not something static like the Thar Desert or a mountain range; it is a dynamic process.”

He further stated, “BNP has never spoken against reforms — in fact, we have supported them. But insisting that the July Declaration must be included in the fundamental principles is spreading confusion. It is misleading the people. Why are you trying to confuse the public like this? Instead of doing that, return power to the people — that would be the greatest step.”

Rizvi made these remarks on Friday morning (July 11) while addressing a gathering as the chief guest at a programme organised by Zia Parishad in front of the BNP central office in Nayapaltan. The event was held to distribute prayer mats among the underprivileged, seeking recovery for Abdul Quddus, president of Zia Parishad and adviser to the BNP Chairperson.

Earlier, on Thursday, after a meeting with the National Consensus Commission, BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed stated that the party does not support the inclusion of the July Declaration in the Constitution’s fundamental principles. He said, “Instead of incorporating the entire declaration, only the spirit of the July-August student uprising could be recognised and referenced in the Fourth Schedule as ‘July Uprising 2024’.”

Salahuddin further added, “Declarations remain as literature or archival documents; they are not typically included in the Constitution. The fact that the 1972 Constitution did not incorporate the Declaration of Independence proves that no declaration automatically becomes part of the Constitution.”

Commenting on the country’s dire economic situation, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said, “This is not mere rhetoric. People are now wondering whether a famine may strike in September or October. If we begin to see or hear signs of famine, the people will not spare us.”