Jamaat warns BNP of ‘forcibly' implementing July Charter

Amid arguments between the government and the Opposition in the House over the Constitution Reform Council reportedly linked to the July National Charter, the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami has warned the BNP of “forced implementation” of the declaration.

Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Amir ATM Azharul Islam issued the warning at a protest rally at the north gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon.

"The July Uprising did not take place to oust one party and install another in power. The uprising was meant to change the existing constitutional framework written to facilitate a fascist regime,” he said.

"That is why the constitution must be reformed and a new Bangladesh must be built."

Azhar said the new cabinet including the prime and home ministers, and even the MPs were elected to the parliament on the back of the 2024 uprising.

The Rangpur-2 MP said the BNP [in the past] did not accept the caretaker government system easily too.

It was forced to introduce the caretaker government system at the cost of many lives, he said, warning: “If BNP does not implement the July Charter while it still has time, it will be forced to do so.”

Azhar, a death-row convict who was freed from jail in mid-2025 after being acquitted of 1971 war crimes, also warned that street protests are threatening for the government.

The remarks follow an Opposition walkout from parliament on Apr 1, protesting what they described as a lack of remedy on their motion to convene the Constitution Reform Council to implement the Charter.

The following day, Jamaat-led 11-party alliance announced plans for protest rallies and processions across Dhaka for Saturday.

After the rally, the protesters including leaders of Jamaat, National Citizen Party and Khelafat Majlish marched to Bijoynagar Nightingale intersection.

Top leaders of the alliance will meet again on Apr 7 to decide on the next programme.

Earlier on Saturday, State Minister for Planning Zonayed Saki said no “fundamental dispute exists” over the Charter itself.

But attempts are being made to trigger debates over the process of implementing the Charter, said Saki, an ally of the BNP-led government.