Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has said that one political party is currently looking for an opportunity to sign the July Charter.He made the remarks on Thursday while addressing as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Education and Employment in the Thoughts of Youth in Post-2024 Bangladesh” held at the Jahir Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka.Salahuddin Ahmed said,“Except for two political parties, all others have agreed to the implementation of the July Charter and have already signed it. One of those two parties even attended the signing ceremony. That particular party is now looking for an opportunity to sign the Charter, and they have placed some demands. Discussions are ongoing, and I hope a rational solution will be reached regarding their demands.”
He further said,
“Yesterday, one political party claimed that BNP accepted the idea of a referendum under public pressure. In politics, if someone feels satisfied with such thoughts, we have no objection — we welcome it. However, we have been saying from the beginning that the July National Charter has been formulated, will be signed, and will be implemented through a historic event.”
The BNP policymaker continued,
“After the signing of the July National Charter, a national referendum will be organized to seek the sovereign consent of the people, because according to Article 7 of the Constitution, the people are the owners of all state power. The final expression of that will is embodied in the Constitution. Therefore, if the people say ‘yes’ in the referendum, that will serve as its legal foundation.”
He added,
“The state cannot run on emotion; it must function through laws and regulations. Through dialogue, we must place national interests above party interests so that no future legal questions arise over the legitimacy of the July Charter. Hence, we must move forward not with political emotion but in accordance with the Constitution.”
Salahuddin Ahmed also said,
“Based on expert opinions, we will decide how the July National Charter will be officially published or gazetted. In any case, it will ultimately gain legal legitimacy through a public referendum.”
On education and employment, he noted,
“Employment generation should not rely solely on the public or private sectors. We must strengthen the mindset for self-employment among youth by creating more opportunities for training and skill development.”
He further emphasized,
“Increasing the education budget alone is not enough; ensuring its proper utilization is essential. More investment is needed in research, scholarships, and sustainable knowledge creation. Without a shift in mindset and institutional reform, no change will be truly effective.”
The BNP leader also said,
“For national liberation, democratic institutions such as the judiciary, the election commission, the anti-corruption commission, and independent media must be strengthened. That is what institutional transformation means. Once this transformation takes place, the nation’s true freedom will follow.”
The seminar was chaired by Professor Dr. A. B. M. Obaidul Islam, President of the University Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh (UTAB).
Among others who spoke were: BNP Media Cell Convener Professor Dr. Maudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel, UTAB General Secretary Professor Dr. Md. Morshed Hasan Khan, former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Professor Dr. A. F. M. Yusuf Haider, Professor Dr. S. M. Hafizur Rahman of the Institute of Education and Research, Vice-Chancellor of State University Professor Akhtar Hossain Khan, and Vice-Chancellor of Pabna University of Science and Technology Dr. Sohag Aowal, along with several national political and professional leaders.