July Charter Lacking Legal Basis Would Be a Betrayal on the Nation: Nahid Islam

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam stated that if the July Charter has no legal foundation, it will hold no value or meaning. He dismissed the signing as mere formality. Speaking at a press conference at the party's temporary office in Banglamot, Dhaka, at 12:00pm on Saturday, Nahid said this in the presence of Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain and senior leaders.

Nahid Islam remarked, "We've said this before and reiterated it. That's why we didn't participate in the formality. Without a legal basis, it remains just a formality. It would be a fraud on the public and a mockery of the nation."

On the police attack on protesters before the July Charter signing event, he said, "The way July warriors and martyrs' families were insulted shows no connection or concern for the people. The event didn't reflect or implement public aspirations."

He emphasized that any change to something as crucial as the constitution requires a legal foundation. "Efforts are underway from within and outside to keep the 1972 Constitution unchanged and preserve the old fascist structure. Some political parties have compromised under pressure from beneficiaries of the former fascist regime."

Highlighting attempts to sustain the fascist structure, Nahid said, "The formation of the National Conference for Consensus, reform discussions, and the July Charter were driven by pressure from NCP and other groups, including student and public participants in the uprising. NCP has no objection to parties signing the July Charter; they did so per their judgment. But we insist on a legal foundation; otherwise, it means nothing."

NCP demanded justice for the police attack during the July Charter signing and called for BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed to retract his remark labeling injured July warriors as "Awami League collaborators" and issue an apology.