Gonoforum to sign July Charter Sunday as it contains 'Proclamation of Independence'

The Gonoforum has decided to sign the July National Charter 2025 on Sunday (19 October), after confirming that the "Proclamation of Independence" has been retained in the document.

The signing will take place at 12:30pm at its office in the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, according to a press release issued by the National Consensus Commission today (18 October).

Speaking to The Business Standard, Gonoforum Presidium member and acting president Advocate Subrata Chowdhury said, "The commission has handed us the full report in book form, where the Proclamation of Independence of 10 April 1971 has been retained."

"For this reason, we have decided to sign the charter. It will be attached as a schedule to the Constitution," he said.

Yesterday, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, members of National Consensus Commission and leaders of 24 political parties signed the charter at South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka.

However, Gonoforum attended the ceremony but didn't sign the charter.

The 40-page dossier outlines the political history of Bangladesh, covering the British colonial period, the historic Language Movement of 1952, the education movements of 1962, the autonomy movement of 1966, and the mass uprising of 1969. 

It also recalls the 1970 general elections, the Liberation War of 1971, and the establishment of a one-party state through constitutional amendments in 1975.

The charter noted that "following various political developments, the country returned to democracy through the parliamentary elections of 1979, initiated by the reintroduction of a multi-party system in 1978. However, that democratic path was short-lived."

It further highlights that between 2009 and 2024, state institutions were dominated by autocratic practices favoring certain individuals, families, and groups.

The charter criticised the three consecutive controversial elections of 2014, 2018, and 2024, saying they undermined the electoral system, politicised the judiciary, law enforcement and public administration and facilitated corruption.

The charter also reflects on the persistent democratic movements of the last 16 years, including road safety movement in 2018, anti-quota movement, and student-led anti-discrimination movement and culminating in the broad-based mass uprising against fascism in July 2024.

Finally, the charter contains a seven-point commitment, urging political party representatives to sign it and uphold the will of the people expressed in the July 2024 uprising, grounded in democratic principles and national consensus.