National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam on Thursday said the party would not participate in the signing ceremony of the July Charter until the draft order for its implementation is made public.
鈥楽igning the July Charter before the issuance of the legal order is merely ceremonial. We can attend the event only after the issue is clarified; otherwise, it will not be possible for us to participate,鈥� Nahid said at a press conference at the NCP central office in the city.
The NCP urged the government to resolve three key issues before holding the signing ceremony, stressing that the process must be transparent and based on national consensus.
The party demanded that the full text of the July Charter Implementation Order, including provisions related to the proposed referendum, be finalised and published ahead of the signing. It said the draft order鈥攔eflecting the sovereign will of the people鈥攎ust be formally issued by chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
The NCP further said that if the July Charter is endorsed through a referendum, any note of dissent should carry no validity. Based on the referendum鈥檚 outcome, the next elected parliament would exercise its constituent power to amend the constitution, which would then be titled The Constitution of Bangladesh, 2026.
Accusing the government of deception over the July Declaration, Nahid said that a clear legal foundation had been demanded earlier but not ensured. He alleged that the version of the declaration shown to the party had later been altered during its reading, resulting in a compromised document.
Nahid said the NCP would not take part in another symbolic event lacking legal basis, as there was no guarantee on what grounds the government would later issue the order.
He cautioned political parties to think carefully before joining such a ceremony, warning that they would have to answer to the public for their decision.
NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain added that the July Charter must be given a legal foundation and that the next national election should be held under that framework.
