26 Points to Condemn Hasina’s Misrule, Honor '24 Uprising

Discussion surrounding the July Declaration and its charter is dominating Bangladesh’s political landscape. The interim government has announced that the Declaration will be unveiled on August 5 afternoon. Meanwhile, politicians have taken to social media platforms like Facebook to voice their demands and propose outlines for this pivotal document.

What does the July Declaration entail? Sources indicate that its draft comprises 26 points, beginning with the establishment of Bangladesh through the Liberation War, following 23 years of deprivation post-1947. It then outlines 19 reasons for its creation, highlighting the 1972 Constitution’s weaknesses and misuse, alongside the Awami League government’s failure to meet public aspirations. The draft accuses the Awami League of instituting a one-party system under BAKSAL, curtailing freedom of expression and judicial independence, which led to the united soldier-citizen revolution on November 7, 1975.

According to sources, the Declaration details how the 1/11 event facilitated Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule, marked by 16 years of fascist, anti-democratic, and anti-people governance, characterized by misrule, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and suppression of free speech. It claims that one-party-driven constitutional amendments and changes destroyed state and constitutional institutions, tarnished Bangladesh’s international image, and turned the country into a fascist, mafia-driven, failed state.

The Declaration further states that Bangladeshis demand good governance, fair elections, and reforms to prevent the recurrence of fascist rule. They also seek justice for the Awami League’s alleged atrocities in July 2024, including disappearances, murders, mass killings, crimes against humanity, and various forms of oppression. Finally, the draft emphasizes granting appropriate state and constitutional recognition to the 2024 student-people’s uprising, with plans to incorporate the Declaration into the reformed constitution’s preamble and schedule under an elected government.