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Preparations have been completed at the South Plaza of Bangladesh’s National Parliament for the signing ceremony of the July National Charter.
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus will preside over the event, organised by the National Consensus Commission.
Monir Haider, special assistant to the chief advisor and a member of the commission, said that all arrangements had been finalised.
“Preparations for the ceremony at the South Plaza are complete. We are now waiting for the event to begin.”
Although the ceremony was scheduled to start at 4pm on Friday, the Chief Advisor’s Press Wing said the event might be delayed slightly due to "inclement weather".
“We are ready for the historic July Charter signing ceremony. Due to inclement weather, the start of the event may be delayed by a few minutes. However, everything remains on track, and some guests have already arrived at the venue. We look forward to witnessing the beginning of a new chapter in our history,” the Press Wing said in a statement.
A three-tier security cordon has been set up around the Parliament complex. Invited guests have started to arrive for the ceremony.
The open-air stage at the South Plaza has been prepared for the signing of the July Charter. Leaders from 33 political parties are expected to sit on the main stage, where designated chairs have been arranged for them.
Rows of chairs have also been set up for guests beneath the plaza, with red carpets laid across the venue to mark the occasion.
Earlier in the day, police clashed with protesters identifying themselves as “July fighters” near the same venue. The demonstrators, including families of those killed and injured in last year’s July Uprising, were demanding state recognition, legal protection and rehabilitation.
Police used batons, tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the protesters after they refused to leave the area despite assurances from organisers that their concerns would be addressed.
Several people were reported injured during the clashes, and traffic around Manik Mia Avenue was halted for several hours.