July Declaration to get constitutional recognition

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday read out the July Declaration, saying that constitutional and state recognition would be granted to the 2024 student-led mass uprising.

"The people of Bangladesh desire that the student-people's uprising of 2024 will receive proper state and constitutional recognition, and that the July Declaration will feature in the schedule of the reformed constitution by the government formed through the next national election," Prof Yunus read from the document.

He added that the declaration was formulated to reflect the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh, victorious in the mass uprising of August 5, 2024.

Leaders of political parties, including the BNP, National Citizen Party, and Jamaat-e-Islami, stood beside Prof Yunus on the steps of the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad (national parliament) as he read out the declaration.

Prof Yunus also said the people wish to recognise the martyrs of the July uprising as "national heroes" and ensure necessary "legal protection" for the students and citizens who participated in the movement.

The declaration chronicles events spanning decades, including the Liberation War of 1971, the November 1975 uprising and the struggle against military dictator HM Ershad during the 1990s.

The announcement was part of a daylong programme celebrating the "36 Days of July," organised by the government to commemorate one year since the mass uprising that culminated in the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government.

The former prime minister fled to India on August 5, last year.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam, Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Syed Rezaul Karim, Nagarik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Ganosamhati Andolan Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki, Hefajat-e-Islam Secretary General Sajedur Rahman, Jatiya Ganofront Coordinator Tipu Biswas, Amar Bangladesh Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju, and Gano Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur stood beside Yunus on the podium.

Sabrina Afroz, sister of July mass uprising martyr Mahbubul Alam, also joined them on the stage.

Amid light rain, the programme began with the national anthem, followed by a one-minute silence in honour of the fallen heroes of the mass uprising.

JULY DECLARATION

The declaration opens by stating that, as part of the historic struggle against colonialism, the people of this land rose against 23 years of deprivation and exploitation under Pakistan's autocratic rule. Through mass resistance against indiscriminate genocide, they declared independence on March 26, 1971, and established the state of Bangladesh through a Liberation War for national emancipation.

The people made the ultimate sacrifice through a long struggle to realise a liberal democratic state based on equality, dignity, and social justice, as articulated in the 1971 Proclamation of Independence.

However, the declaration states, the post-independence Awami League government failed to meet public aspirations due to procedural flaws in drafting the 1972 Constitution, its structural weaknesses, and misuse of power, which undermined democracy and state institutions.

It says the AL, instead of fulfilling the democratic promises of independence, manipulated the constitution to establish a one-party BAKSAL system, curbing freedom of expression and judicial independence.

In response, soldiers and the masses staged an uprising on November 7, 1975, paving the way for the return of multi-party democracy, freedom of expression, and judicial independence.

Following the 1990 mass uprising against military dictatorship, parliamentary democracy was restored in 1991. But this process was later disrupted by internal and external conspiracies, leading to Hasina's rise through the orchestrated "1/11" episode.

Over the past 16 years, the declaration says, Hasina's regime pursued undemocratic and illegal constitutional changes driven by a desire to establish a one-party state. It says that Hasina's rule "turned Bangladesh into a fascist, mafia-style, and failing state," tarnishing the country's international image.

"In the name of so-called development," it says, Hasina's government devastated the economy through rampant corruption, bank looting, money laundering, and the destruction of financial institutions, while also endangering the country's environment, biodiversity, and climate.

The declaration adds that democratic opponents across society were subjected to imprisonment, torture, false charges, abductions, and extrajudicial killings.

It notes that Hasina's regime held three rigged elections -- in 2014, 2018, and 2024 -- to cling to power amid mounting public discontent.

Amid this, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement emerged, demanding the abolition of the discriminatory quota system in public recruitment. The student-led protests, joined by people from all walks of life, evolved into a full-scale mass uprising.

"The Awami fascist forces indiscriminately killed nearly a thousand people, including women and children, leaving countless others maimed or blinded; and in the final phase of the movement, members of the armed forces extended their support to the people's democratic struggle," reads the declaration.

Eventually, Hasina was forced to flee the country on August 5, 2024, as crowds surged toward the Gono Bhaban, the then PM's official residence.

Following her ouster, the illegitimate 12th parliament was dissolved, and "in accordance with Article 106 of the Constitution and based on the opinion of the Supreme Court, an interim government was constitutionally formed on August 8, 2024, under the leadership of Dr Muhammad Yunus".

"The people of Bangladesh express their intent to democratically reform the existing constitution and all state and constitutional institutions in an orderly manner to ensure good governance, free and fair elections, and prevention of the recurrence of fascist rule," the declaration says.

It also affirms the people's "firm resolve" to ensure prompt and appropriate justice for crimes committed by the AL government during the 16-year anti-fascist struggle and especially the July 2024 uprising, including enforced disappearances, killings, and the plundering of state resources.

The declaration further states that "the people of Bangladesh declare all martyrs of the July mass uprising as national heroes" and intend to provide full legal protection to the families of the martyrs, injured fighters, and all students and citizens who took part in the protests.

It reaffirms the intent to establish the rule of law, human rights, a corruption-free, exploitation-free, and equitable society based on values, and a democratic state system -- through constitutional reforms undertaken by a national parliament formed via free, fair, and impartial elections, in line with the aspirations of the people, especially the youth.

It also expresses the hope that the rights of present and future generations will be safeguarded through an inclusive, sustainable development strategy that is environmentally and climate resilient.

Finally, it affirms that the 2024 uprising will receive due state and constitutional recognition, and that this declaration will be included in the schedule of the reformed constitution by the next elected government.

The government announced the "July Declaration" after consulting political parties. It took on the responsibility last December amid protests led by Students Against Discrimination, the platform that spearheaded last year's uprising.