Post by : Jyoti Gupta

Photo:AP

Dhaka, August 5, 2025 – A major announcement called the July Proclamation, planned for today in Dhaka to mark the first anniversary of the uprising that removed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, may face resistance from one of Bangladesh’s biggest political parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that his party will only support the July Proclamation if it respects and follows the 1972 Constitution of Bangladesh, which was created after the country’s Liberation War in 1971. Speaking a day before the event, he warned that if the final version of the proclamation goes against the constitution, then the BNP will not accept it.

What Is the July Proclamation?

The July Proclamation, also called the July Charter, is an official announcement made by the current interim government, which came to power after the political unrest in 2024 that forced Sheikh Hasina out of office.

The proclamation is expected to be publicly read out by Chief Adviser Professor Mohammed Yunus at 5 PM today at the Southern Plaza of the Jatiyo Sansad (National Parliament). The event is being held to honor and remember the political uprising of July-August 2024, which led to massive changes in the country's political system.

BNP Was Sent a Draft – But Not Asked to Sign

According to BNP leader Mr. Alamgir, the interim government had earlier shared a draft version of the proclamation with the party. At that time, BNP did not find anything seriously wrong with the document. However, they still don’t know what the final version will look like.

Mr. Alamgir clearly stated that the BNP has not been asked to sign the proclamation. He believes that any such important document, which could shape the future of Bangladesh, must be created and approved by elected leaders, not by a temporary government.

Background of the Proclamation

The idea of this proclamation was first introduced in December 2024 by student-activists who support the interim government. These student groups had said they wanted to "bury" the 1972 constitution, which caused controversy.

Due to strong opposition and public concern, the interim government took control of the plan and decided to handle the proclamation in a more balanced way. On June 6, during the Eid celebrations, Professor Yunus announced that all parties had agreed to the content of the proclamation. However, BNP now says they never agreed to anything formally.

BNP’s Doubts and Limited Participation

BNP leaders are still unsure whether they will fully participate in today’s event. They have not officially rejected the invitation from the interim government, and a small group of BNP members may attend. But the party says it will decide its future action only after seeing the final text of the proclamation.

Mr. Alamgir also repeated the view that such a document should be developed by a democratically elected government, not by an unelected interim authority.

Preparations in the Capital

As the capital city prepares for this major event, special traffic guidelines have been announced for Tuesday. People are being asked to follow restrictions and road closures near the parliament to ensure smooth movement during the proclamation ceremony.

The Deputy Press Secretary of the Chief Adviser has confirmed that Professor Yunus will personally read out the July Proclamation during the event.

One Year After Sheikh Hasina’s Fall

This event marks exactly one year since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024. Since then, the country has been run by an interim administration, and political stability still seems far off. Many in Bangladesh are watching closely to see what changes this July Proclamation might bring and how political parties, especially BNP, will respond.

If the proclamation goes against the spirit of the Liberation War or the existing constitutional rules, there could be strong opposition and even fresh political tensions in the country.