Government Sincere on Full Implementation of July Charter, Special Committee Tells Student Organisations

The government is sincere about the full implementation of the July Charter. The special committee on constitutional amendment has requested young people not to be misled by any kind of propaganda by the opposition on this issue.

The request was made on Tuesday (November 3) at a views-exchange meeting of the special committee with representatives of various student organisations at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. The information was given in a press release of the Parliament Secretariat after the meeting.

The release said the committee exchanged views with representatives of various student organisations, including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which contributed to the July mass uprising.

During the exchange, discussions were held on including education and healthcare as fundamental rights in the constitution, legal protection for July fighters, proper implementation of the demands of the mass uprising, sustainable implementation of the July Charter, the existing powers of the prime minister, ensuring protection of women and children, provisions on emergency, independence of constitutional institutions, and the referendum, among other issues.

At the meeting, the important contribution of students to the July mass uprising was remembered with respect. Mentioning that the youth have historically shown the nation the path in every era, discussions were held on formulating a timely constitution for the nation through people-friendly measures and constitutional amendment for the welfare of the youth.

It was also mentioned at the meeting that the July Charter clearly speaks of 'reforms subject to constitutional amendment'. The meeting was also told that the government is sincere about the full implementation of the July Charter.

Related sources said a top leader of Chhatra Dal said at the exchange that the prime minister's power in the parliamentary system should not be reduced. He demanded implementation of the charter in the way it was signed, including the notes of dissent.

The views-exchange meeting was held in the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, chaired by the committee's chair and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. Among the committee members present were Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman, Joynul Abedin, State Minister for Planning Jonayed Abdur Rahim Saki, State Minister for Expatriate Welfare Nurul Haque, Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin and State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin.

Related sources said representatives of various student organisations, including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which contributed to the July mass uprising, were invited to the exchange. Although 62 people were invited in total, 31 were present. Leaders of Chhatra Dal, Chhatra Union (a faction), Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Chhatra Federation, Chhatra Adhikar Parishad and other student organisations took part in the meeting.

Among the familiar faces of the July movement and coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam, Hasnat Abdullah, Sarjis Alam, Asif Mahmud, Abdul Hannan Masud, Nusrat Tabassum, Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) vice-president Sadiq Kayem and general secretary SM Farhad were also invited to the exchange. But they were not present at the meeting.

Attaching the invitation letter, Sadiq Kayem wrote on his Facebook ID, 'I and DUCSU are rejecting and boycotting this farcical views-exchange meeting, which goes against the aspirations of the July mass uprising.'