Bangladesh interim govt to unveil ‘July declaration’ on first anniversary of Hasina’s ouster

The interim authorities in Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, introduced that it’s going to formally current the much-anticipated “July Declaration” on August 5, precisely one yr after the autumn of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League authorities.

In a press release issued Saturday, Yunus’s press workforce stated the ultimate draft of the declaration is prepared and will likely be unveiled in entrance of representatives from all factions that supported final yr’s mass protests.

“The interim authorities has finalised the draft of the July Declaration. It is going to be introduced on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, earlier than the nation within the presence of all events in favour of the mass upheaval,” the assertion learn.

The declaration seeks to present constitutional legitimacy to the youth-led motion that erupted in July-August 2024, finally forcing Hasina to flee the nation. The College students In opposition to Discrimination (SAD), a bunch that performed a central position within the rebellion, had lengthy demanded formal recognition of the motion’s political significance.

Data adviser Mahfuj Alam, whom Yunus earlier referred to as the “important mind” or the mastermind of what’s dubbed the July rebellion, in the meantime, stated the much-anticipated July Declaration was now a “actuality”.

“It is going to be introduced on August 5. I thank everybody for maintaining this problem alive within the public conscience and serving to pave the best way for its implementation,” stated Alam, who was one of many high leaders of College students In opposition to Discrimination (SAD).

The SAD led final yr’s violent marketing campaign that ultimately toppled the Awami League regime, prompting Hasina to flee the nation on August 5, 2024. Nonetheless, the thought for the July Declaration arose to SAD leaders by the tip of December final yr.

A number one SAD determine, Hasnat Abdullah, now a high chief of the Nationwide Citizen Get together (NCP), an offshoot of the SAD that emerged in February this yr visibly with Yunus’s blessings, on December 28 final yr introduced a “declaration of the July Revolution” could be declared within the capital on December 31.

Within the subsequent days, SAD leaders put of their efforts to popularise phrases similar to “Second Republic” by means of the July Declaration.

They deliberate a grand rally to announce the “proclamation” to “bury” Bangladesh’s 1972 “Mujibist Structure”, and declare the Awami League “irrelevant”, sparking political tensions and speculations.

Yunus’s authorities initially most popular to distance itself from the transfer, calling it a “non-public initiative”, however in a shock announcement later stated the federal government itself would put together the “proclamation of July rebellion” incorporating views of the SAD, all taking part college students, political events and stakeholders.

The proponents of the declaration say it’s geared toward “unifying the nation round final yr’s core values of anti-fascism, democratic resurgence, and state reform” but it surely sparked debate amongst political events – not solely over its content material alone but additionally over whether or not it needs to be granted constitutional standing.

Former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Get together (BNP) standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury stated there was no scope to deliver any change within the political course of outdoors parliament, which doesn’t exist within the nation.

“There isn’t a scope for constitutional amendments outdoors it (parliament),” he stated at a celebration rally within the capital.

The senior BNP chief stated discussions relating to constitutional modification had been nonetheless underway but when any amendments had been to be made to the structure, they have to be executed by means of parliament.

Authorized specialists stated the existence of Bangladesh could be at stake if 1972 structure is scrapped, as demanded by the SAD earlier.

With inputs from businesses