Salahuddin seeks legal enforcement of July Charter, warns against extra-constitutional moves

BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed today (26 October) urged all political forces to ensure the strict implementation of the July Charter in accordance with the law and the Constitution, warning that any actions taken outside legal procedures could face future judicial challenges.

"The July charter will be a historic and comprehensive document of political consensus in national life… We are all committed to implementing it, and the proper forum for its implementation is an elected national parliament. No party has any objection to this," he said.

Speaking at a discussion at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh, organised by Gono Odhikar Parishad on its fourth founding anniversary, the BNP leader said that to ensure the parliament is bound to implement the charter, a proposal will now be sent to the government by the National Consensus Commission.

"Only after the recommendation is given, the legal procedures can be known. I would like to appeal to all political parties and to the people that we must in no way go beyond the lawful or constitutional process. We must guide this nation through an orderly and lawful path," he said.

Salahuddin, a BNP Standing Committee member, said some people, out of emotion, suggest that many revolutionary orders could be issued in line with the people's will expressed through the July uprising.

"But this is only an emotional statement. To realise the people's will, we have all relied on the Constitution. This government has been formed constitutionally, and we are still running the state in a lawful and constitutional manner," he said.

The BNP leader said some matters may be debated regarding whether true constitutionality has been maintained in forming the interim government.

"Through Article 106 and Supreme Court approval, we have tried to ensure legality. Some provisions of the Constitution may appear aggregated, but their legitimacy will be confirmed by the next parliament when it validates government actions. Other laws passed will also need ratification. This is the rule and tradition, and Bangladesh has preserved its constitutional tradition in this way," he said.

Salahuddin stressed that no extra-constitutional step should be taken that could raise questions in the future.

"The July national charter has been signed by all and consented to with notes of agreement. When it is implemented on the basis of the sovereign consent of the people and made binding on a parliament, no MP or the parliament can bypass it. This reflects the true will of the people, and the constitutional power of the people, as expressed through referendum, will be respected under Article 7. The next parliament will be obliged to implement that consent," he said.

The BNP leader also appealed for careful, rule-based action so that the July charter is implemented through national unity, fulfilling the dreams of the martyrs and the expectations of the people.

"We must ensure that no one should ever be able to claim our whole process was illegal. I am not saying this only for today or the next five years. We must lay a foundation now so that even 10 or 15 years from now no one can take this matter to court. Therefore, we must cautiously carry forward the achievements we have won," he said.

Salahuddin said the political parties must maintain the same unity that brought victory in the anti-fascist democratic movement — the unity that forced fascism to fall and its leaders to flee.

He said everyone should stand together on the questions of Bangladesh's independence, sovereignty and democracy, and that they must not allow fascism to return in any form.

"If our unity against fascism is broken for any reason, it will only invite the return of fascism. We must shut every door to the return of fascism and remain united on that. The anti-fascist national unity will be the only strength for us to move forward in the days ahead," Salahuddin said.