Professor Ali Riaz, special assistant to the Chief Adviser Prof Mohammad Yunus, today clarified that the proposed “July charter” contains no provisions to remove references to 1971 or the phrase “Bismillah” from the Constitution, dismissing such claims as “motivated propaganda.”
“A certain quarter is spreading rumours that if the July charter is passed, 1971 will be erased from the Constitution and ‘Bismillah’ removed. This is entirely false,” he said while speaking as chief guest at a divisional Imam conference at Chattogram Stadium.
“Those making these claims are either misunderstanding the charter or deliberately spreading misinformation.”
Reflecting on the past 15 years, he said the country had been governed under a system that granted the prime minister virtually absolute power.
“The prime minister’s authority was limitless. Even a convicted murderer, whose death sentence was upheld by all courts, was pardoned by the president on the prime minister’s advice. All political parties now agree that this system must change. That is why the July charter is necessary,” he added.
Ali Riaz emphasised that the charter was “written in blood” during the July uprising and stressed the collective responsibility of citizens to uphold it.
He also outlined the significance of the upcoming referendum in decentralising power, noting that while Bangladesh held referendums 35 years ago, much of the current population has never participated in one.
“This referendum differs from those under Zia or Ershad, which were largely about seeking confidence in an individual. This vote concerns a charter reached through consensus by over 30 political parties,” he said.
Key reforms linked to a “Yes” vote include reducing the prime minister’s absolute power, decentralising the judiciary, ensuring transparency in the Public Service Commission (PSC) and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), establishing an Upper House in Parliament for proportional representation, and reforming presidential elections and government spending.
He added that the ACC had previously been used to suppress opposition parties.
“Our responsibility is to establish a system where no mother has to lose her child again. This is the mandate given to us by our brave martyrs and the people,” he said.
He concluded that while the Liberation of 1971 and the 2024 uprising were decades apart, both aimed to achieve the same goal: the establishment of justice.
