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Published : 17 Oct 2025, 04:33 PM
The National Consensus Commission has announced changes to the fifth clause of the July Charter just before the signing ceremony.
The “urgent amendment” was made in response to the demands of the July fighters, a press release from the commission said.
The amendment was read out by the commission’s Vice Chairman Ali Riaz to the July fighters protesting at the South Plaza of the National Parliament on Friday.
The revised fifth clause states, “I will ensure that all the victims of disappearances, murders and torture during the 16-years of anti-fascist struggle against the Awami League in Bangladesh before the mass uprising and all the murders committed by some members of the fascist Awami League and its allied law enforcing agencies during the July-August 2024 mass uprising are tried, that the martyrs are given state recognition, and that the families of the martyrs and injured July heroes are provided with appropriate assistance such as monthly allowances, good medical treatment, rehabilitation measures, and legal immunity, as well as the protection of the fundamental rights and security of the families of the martyrs and injured heroes.”
Addressing the protesters, Riaz said that the commission will brief the government clearly and specifically regarding the implementation of this pledge.
There is no difference of opinion between the political parties and the consensus commission on this issue, he said.
Several members of the commission were present at the time.
The July activists had taken up positions in front of the stage of the July Charter signing ceremony on Friday to demand state recognition, legal protections, and rehabilitation. Riaz came to the stage and announced that amendments would be brought to the July Charter to fulfil their demands.
Despite the promise, the July activists did not leave the area. Police then charged the protester, hitting them with batons to remove them. They also used tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the crowd.
The July activists vandalised several vehicles outside the Parliament Building at the time, setting fire to tires and wood on the road and small tents set up outside for the ceremony.
Some of the people injured in the police baton charge were seen being taken to the hospital. With law enforcers prodding them, the protesters took up positions at the Khamarbari intersection and at Asad Gate.
The July Charter signing ceremony, which is to be attended by several political parties as well as Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, was scheduled to begin at 4pm. It was later pushed back slightly due to inclement weather. The unrest near the stage occurred around three hours before the event was to start.
