A total of 24 of the 30 political parties that had engaged in nearly a year-long dialogue with the National Consensus Commission to shape the country鈥檚 reform agenda signed the July National Charter on Friday at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad in the presence of chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.
Representatives from 25 political parties attended the signing ceremony, but Gano Forum leaders stood away from signing the document, citing reservations over a certain point in the national charter for state reforms.
Other parties including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami signed the document with their dissents on some proposals.
Five other parties, including the National Citizen Party, did not participate in the event at all.聽
Criticising the political parties that joined the July National Charter signing ceremony, NCP convener Nahid Islam on Friday said that some politicians betraying people were signing a paper.
His allegations came at the launching event of Jatiya Sramik Shakti, NCP鈥檚 labour front, in Eskaton Garden area in the city.聽
A group of people identifying themselves as 鈥楯uly warriors鈥� set fire to two police tents on Manik Mia Avenue at around 1:00pm on Friday 鈥� just hours before the signing of the charter.
The incident occurred after a section of demonstrators breached security barricades and staged a sit-in near the signing venue, demanding official recognition, indemnity, and permission to take part in the ceremony.
鈥楾oday marks our re-birth. Through this signing, we have initiated a new Bangladesh,鈥� chief adviser Muhammad Yunus said after signing the July Charter.
Chief adviser, also the president of the National Consensus Commission, said that the young people who had made that day possible 鈥� those who had sacrificed their lives for the change 鈥� would now rebuild Bangladesh.
Guided by that spirit and vision, Yunus said, they would shape the nation, lead it, and show the way forward.
Chief adviser Yunus entered the venue at 4:30pm,聽 accompanied by a parade by the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps, Rover Scouts, and national minority students.
The ceremony started at 4:30pm, 30 minutes later than the scheduled time due to rain.
Chiefs of the Armed Forces, foreign diplomats, top government officials, educationists, and senior journalists were present as guests.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Liberal Democratic Party, Rashtra Sangskar Andolan, Nagorik Oikko, Amar Bangladesh Party, Nationalist Democratic Movement, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Zaker Party, Nezam-e-Islam Party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Islami Oikya Jote, Ganosamhati Andolan, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Gonofront, Bangladesh Labour Party, Bhashani Janashakti Party, Amjanatar Dal, Jatiyotabadi Somomona Jote, 12-Party Alliance signed the charter.
Earlier, the NCP, formed by the student leaders of the successful mass apprising in August 2024, announced the party would not take part in the signing unless its implementation process was made public.
The Communist Party of Bangladesh, Socialist Party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, and the SPB (Marxist) also refrained from signing the charter, stating that their demand for retaining the existing four fundamental principles in the constitution had not been met in the final version.
鈥榃e once lived in a barbaric world where there were no rules or laws. Now, we have entered civilisation, and we will build such a civilisation that others will look up to us with admiration. Our future will depend on how we shape our lives under this charter,鈥� chief adviser said in his address.
Yunus said that it was the responsibility of the next government, and those that follow, to build the nation, and that the charter represented this preparation. He added that through the charter, a great task had been accomplished.
Chief adviser said that the nation has struck a chord of unity today, which would guide the country towards the upcoming elections scheduled for February.
He urged the political leaders to collectively agree on how the elections should be conducted, emphasising the importance of ensuring that the process is well-organised, festive, and historically memorable.
Yunus said that political parties should take responsibility for managing the elections themselves, setting an example not only for the nation but also for the world, by demonstrating a transparent and exemplary voting process.
NCC vice-chair Professor Ali Riaz also spoke at the event.
The interim government assumed office in August 2024 following a mass uprising that ended the Awami League鈥檚 15-year rule.
After taking office, it pledged to implement state reforms, bring those responsible for the July鈥揂ugust atrocities to justice, and hold a national election.
Between October 2024 and October 2025, the interim government engaged in a year-long process to draft a consensus-based charter for state reform.
Six initial reform commissions were formed in October 2024, later joined by five more, covering areas from the constitution and judiciary to health, labour, and media.
Using recommendations from the key commissions, the NCC, formed on February 15, consulted 37 political parties via a 166-point questionnaire and held two rounds of dialogue, identifying 20 reforms needing constitutional amendments.
A draft July Charter with 84 reform points and a covenant was released in August 2025 and was revised in September following party feedback.
Throughout this period, the NCC finalised implementation methods, including a potential referendum to legalise the charter, with the next Jatiya Sangsad empowered to adopt it constitutionally.
While 30 parties supported holding a referendum, disagreements over its timing remained unresolved as of October 17.
The July Charter, comprising a prologue, 84 reform proposals, and a covenant, is a comprehensive framework aimed at political, administrative, judicial, and electoral reforms in Bangladesh.
It recognised Bangladeshi nationalism while acknowledging all languages and cultures in the country, and defines Bangladesh as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, and multilingual state.
Among its key political reforms is the establishment of a bicameral parliament with a 100-member upper house elected with proportional representation, the appointment of a deputy speaker from the main opposition, and amendments to Article 70 allowing MPs to vote freely except on money bills and no-confidence motions.
Presidential powers are redefined, including the authority to appoint heads of key commissions and the Bangladesh Bank governor without consulting the prime minister.
The charter bars simultaneous roles as prime minister and party chief, and a selection committee is tasked with appointing the caretaker government鈥檚 chief adviser.
It mandates the local government elections and the district coordination councils under the authority of the Election Commission, and extends the Right to Information Act to political parties.
Judicial reforms include an independent Judicial Appointment Commission, a Supreme Court secretariat, a permanent Attorney General Service, and a judicial code of conduct.
Other provisions include investigating the 2024 mass killings and past electoral fraud, forming a permanent Public Administration Reform Commission, and stricter anti-corruption measures.
The covenant affirms the July uprising鈥檚 legitimacy, honours the martyred and injured, and includes legal indemnity for July warriors.
The charter also contains over 50 dissenting notes, reflecting unresolved disagreements, among parties.