Clause 5 of July Charter revised to reflect demands of 'July Fighters': Ali Riaz
“Through this revision, we have reflected the key demands of the July Fighters and made the necessary urgent corrections to the commitments in the charter,” Riaz said.
National Consensus Commission Vice-Chairman Prof Ali Riaz has said that Clause 5 of the "July National Charter 2025" has been amended to incorporate the demands raised by the "July Fighters", who actively took part in last year's mass uprising.
Addressing a group of people protesting under the banner of July Fighters at the South Plaza of the National Parliament today (17 October), he said the amendment was made following detailed discussions with the July Fighters and consultations with political parties.
"Through this revision, we have reflected the key demands of the July Fighters and made the necessary urgent corrections to the commitments in the charter," Riaz said.
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The event was attended by several members of the Consensus Commission, including Justice Md Emdadul Haque, Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, Dr Md Ayyub Mia, and the Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Monir Haidar.
Riaz also read out the revised text of Clause 5, which now states:
"We will ensure justice for all who were abducted, murdered, and tortured during the 16-year democratic struggle against Awami fascism in pre-uprising Bangladesh, and for those killed during the July-August 2024 mass uprising by members of the fascist Awami League and its allied law enforcement agencies.
"We will grant state honours to the martyrs, provide state recognition and adequate assistance — including monthly allowances, medical care, and rehabilitation — to the valiant July Fighters, and ensure legal immunity, protection of fundamental rights, and security for the families of martyrs and the injured July Fighters."
According to Riaz, the commission will now formally present the amended charter to the government with clear and specific recommendations for implementation.
"There is no difference of opinion between political parties and the Consensus Commission on this matter," he added.
The July Charter, which was set to be signed at a ceremony on the South Plaza of the National Parliament at 4pm Friday, outlines areas of reform on which the country's political parties are expected to reach a consensus in principle.
Drafted by the Consensus Commission, the charter is intended to serve as a framework for state reform following last year's July Uprising.
The commission hopes all political parties will sign the National July Charter 2025 at Friday's ceremony, though several, including the NCP, Gonoforum, and four leftist parties, have announced they will not join the event.
While the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have confirmed that they will attend the ceremony, they too have issued demands and remain vague on whether they will sign the document.
The Parliament area turned into a zone of confrontation this afternoon (17 October) as the group of "July Fighters" clashed with police and security forces while attempting to rally and press their demands ahead of the signing of the July Charter.
The demonstrators, reportedly comprised of individuals injured in the July Uprising and families of the martyred, initially gathered for a sit-in at the Parliament premises on Manik Mia Avenue, vowing not to leave until their three key demands were included in the charter.
When blocked by police and other security forces guarding the venue, the situation became chaotic. Police resorted to a baton charge and fired teargas shells and sound grenades to disperse the crowd.
The protesters retaliated, vandalising police vehicles and setting fire to temporary structures built for the July Charter signing ceremony. Additional security forces were later deployed to clear the area, and normal traffic resumed around 2:40pm.
