BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has reaffirmed his party’s commitment to implementing every provision of the July National Charter, dismissing accusations that the party is retreating from its reform promises.
Speaking at a discussion marking the 6th death anniversary of former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Emajuddin Ahmed at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Friday, Fakhrul said, "There was no contradiction between the BNP’s election commitments and its position on the Charter.”
He said, "The party had consistently supported constitutional amendments but had never advocated a complete restructuring of the Constitution.”
“We have always maintained that constitutional amendments are necessary. We have never proposed a complete constitutional restructuring. BNP remains committed to implementing every provision of the July National Charter,” he added.
Fakhrul stated that the BNP had secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority based on the manifesto presented to voters during the election, arguing that the public had endorsed the party’s reform agenda.
“The people entrusted us with governing the country through the mandate they gave us. There should be no confusion about our commitment,” he further said.
Responding to criticism from opposition parties, the BNP secretary alleged that attempts were being made to create uncertainty over the BNP's position on the Charter.
He noted that the political parties involved in the anti-fascist movement had jointly endorsed the July National Charter and insisted that the BNP remained committed to honouring every part of the agreement.
At the same time, he acknowledged that the party did not support every recommendation linked to the broader reform process. He specifically referred to proposals for introducing proportional representation in a proposed upper chamber of Parliament, saying the BNP had never agreed to that model.
According to Fakhrul, the Reform Commission included several recommendations without the BNP's approval.
He added that the Charter itself states that elected political parties would implement reforms in line with the commitments outlined in their election manifestos.
He said the BNP's own 31-point reform programme remained fully compatible with its commitment to the Charter and rejected any suggestion that the party opposed political reform.
Mirza Fakhrul argued that the BNP had introduced several significant democratic changes during previous periods in government, including restoring multi-party democracy, reintroducing the parliamentary system and establishing the caretaker government framework.
He also accused sections of the opposition of attempting to use the legacy of the July mass uprising for political advantage.
“They are trying to use July simply as a route to political power. We do not want the July movement to become another political instrument,” he continued.
Reflecting on the movement, he described the July uprising as the outcome of nearly two decades of opposition to what he called authoritarian rule rather than an isolated event.
He claimed BNP members had faced widespread arrests, enforced disappearances and killings during that period.
Turning to the country’s future, he said, "The student-led protests of July and August 2024 had created an opportunity to build a democratic and liberal political system, while acknowledging that addressing long-standing national challenges would require time.”
“The problems have accumulated over many years. They cannot all be resolved immediately, but we must continue moving forward with patience,” he said.
Fakhrul concluded by paying tribute to Prof. Emajuddin Ahmed, describing him as a respected political scientist, a committed democrat and a patriot. He recalled that the late academic’s residence had regularly hosted meetings of intellectuals and political figures during the anti-government movement, where discussions focused on promoting democratic principles and coordinating support for political change.
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