July Declaration to be ratified in reformed constitution

A new national proclamation called 'July Declaration' encapsulating people's aspirations in the mass uprising 2024 would be ratified in reformed constitution of Bangladesh by the forthcoming parliament.

As the nation marked Tuesday the first anniversary of the historic mass uprising that ousted the long-serving regime of Sheikh Hasina, Chief Adviser of the interim government Professor Muhammad Yunus unveiled the political-consensus declaration focusing equity, justice and fair polls through inclusive democratic reforms.

The declaration bears a promise for incorporation of the July Declaration into the schedule of a reformed Constitution to be drawn by a future elected government.

It "envisions a democratic state free from the shackles of authoritarianism and inequality-a society that respects human dignity, moral values, and the aspirations of its youth".

The proclamation on July uprising, hailed as a document for rebuilding the nation's democratic future, reflects the spirit of the student-led revolution and calls for justice, accountability, and far-reaching reforms to rebuild the state on the foundation of the rule of law, equality, and good governance.

It traces the roots of the 2024 uprising to the longstanding grievances accumulated under successive "authoritarian episodes since independence". It references key milestones in Bangladesh's political evolution-from the 1971 Liberation War and the failure of post-independence constitutionalism, to the one-party BAKSAL system and the democratic reawakening in 1991.

Sharply criticised is the subsequent derailment of democracy, especially during the 16-year rule of Sheikh Hasina, marked by "rampant corruption, political suppression, and a dismantling of state institutions."

According to the declaration, the Hasina regime engineered three "farcical elections" in 2014, 2018, and 2024 to perpetuate its grip on power, depriving citizens of their constitutional right to vote and fair representation. It highlights the extensive use of state machinery to suppress dissent, including extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and politically motivated detentions.

"Every section of society-students, workers, professionals, and the political opposition-suffered oppression," reads the document.

"The regime's partisan control over public employment through a quota system, discriminatory governance, and foreign subservience provoked widespread anger."

The tipping point came with the anti-discrimination student movement, initially sparked by calls to abolish the quota-based recruitment system in public service. The movement rapidly evolved into a mass uprising, culminating in a nationwide noncooperation campaign and a march on Dhaka on August 5, 2024. In the face of the overwhelming public mobilization and final-stage support from segments of the armed forces, Sheikh Hasina fled the country, ending her 16-year rule.

In the wake of the regime's collapse, the 12th National Parliament-elected through the disputed 2024 polls-was dissolved. An interim government was constitutionally formed on August 8, 2024, led by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, pursuant to Article 106 of the Constitution and under Supreme Court guidance.

"The people's trust in the democratic transition and the legitimacy of the uprising has been affirmed both nationally and internationally," the declaration asserts.

It also acknowledges the role of student movements, political parties, civil society, and the general public in achieving what it describes as a "victory against fascism, corruption, and foreign subservience."

"The people of Bangladesh hereby express their determination to defend their hard-won democratic gains and ensure that no force shall again rise to subvert their sovereign will," the document concludes. Leaders from different political parties were present at the state event held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com