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A group of concerned citizens on Friday called on the government to establish an independent and representative Constitutional Reform Council within the 180-day timeframe stipulated in the July Charter, saying the authorities must honour the public mandate expressed through the recent referendum.
In a joint statement, the signatories—describing themselves as citizens who uphold the aspirations of the July Mass Uprising and believe in the “people’s will”—expressed deep concern over what they described as growing political uncertainty and reluctance by the government to implement the referendum’s outcome on state and constitutional reforms.
The statement said the July Mass Uprising created a strong public demand for rebuilding the state, which was later reinforced through the referendum in which 68.59 percent of valid voters supported state reforms. According to the signatories, the result represents a clear expression of the people’s political will and should serve as the guiding principle for major constitutional decisions.
They noted that the referendum strengthened the commitment made in the July Charter to establish an independent Constitutional Reform Council within 180 days. However, they alleged that instead of implementing that pledge, the government has recently raised questions and offered various justifications that have created uncertainty over both the state reform process and the formation of the council.
The citizens said such uncertainty was a matter of serious concern.
The statement also said conflicting positions taken by the government and opposition parties on an issue of national importance were undesirable. While acknowledging that both sides have presented reasonable arguments, the signatories stressed that in a democratic system the will of the people must take precedence.
They urged the government to respect both the aspirations of the July Mass Uprising and the referendum verdict by forming the Constitutional Reform Council within the agreed timeframe.
While recognizing the importance of constitutional amendments through the parliamentary process, the statement argued that the country’s unique political circumstances following the mass uprising require an effective mechanism to achieve meaningful constitutional transformation in line with public expectations.
The signatories further said that all democratic forces committed to the spirit of the Liberation War and the aspirations of the July movement have a responsibility to seize this historic opportunity and advance reforms in the state, society and political system.
The statement outlined three key demands:
- Form an effective and representative Constitutional Reform Council within the 180-day deadline set by the July Charter.
- Fully implement the public mandate expressed in the referendum in favour of the July Charter.
- Ensure that constitutional and state reforms are guided by the people’s political will rather than partisan interests, with the goal of building a just, democratic, humane and accountable welfare state.
The group also called on all democratic political parties, members of civil society, professionals, students and citizens to remain united in defending the referendum verdict, popular sovereignty and the achievements of the July Mass Uprising.
The joint statement was signed by 41 individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, including academics, lawyers, writers, journalists, physicians, researchers, political activists, student leaders and civil society representatives.
Among the signatories are Naeem Ahmad, convener of the Justice and Democracy Party (JDP); poet and philosopher Musa Al Hafiz; Mohammad Mozammel Haque, associate professor at the University of Chittagong; physician Dr Zahid Hasan; journalist and political analyst Wahid Faruqi; Barrister Mustafa Shakerullah of the Bangladesh Supreme Court; researcher Dr Jannatul Arif of North China Electric Power University in Beijing; researcher Dr Abdullah Al Mamun of Airlangga University, Indonesia; actor Dihan Hazari; Abdul Kalam Azad, publisher of Kalantar Prokashani; and Nura Jerin and Salman Sharif, who were identified as injured participants in the July movement.
The statement was also endorsed by representatives of several organisations, including the Justice and Democracy Party (JDP), Human Rights Support Society, State Dialogue Forum (SDF), National Revolutionary Council, July Struggle Council, Students’ Alliance for Democracy (SAD) and the National Student Platform, along with a number of writers, poets, researchers, lecturers and online activists.
The statement was issued on behalf of the concerned citizens by Naeem Ahmad, Convener of the Justice and Democracy Party (JDP).