July Charter a document of deception by interim govt: Home minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today (31 March) termed the “July National Charter Constitutional Reform Implementation Order 2025” a “document of deception by the interim government,” triggering a heated debate in the 5th sitting of the 13th National Parliament over its legality, implementation process, and the question of a public referendum.

While both sides reaffirmed their support for the charter, differences surfaced regarding the implementation process, legal basis, and the question of a public referendum.

Salahuddin stated that the “July National Charter Constitutional Reform Implementation Order 2025” is invalid from the outset. “Since 1973, the President no longer holds constitutional power to issue such orders; therefore, this order is ‘void ab initio’,” he said.

He added that it is neither an ordinance nor a law passed by Parliament, but rather an attempt to create a structure outside the Constitution.

The minister alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner, acting beyond the Constitution, distributed oath forms for members of the so-called “Constitution Reform Council,” which he described as a violation of both the oath and the Constitution.

He stressed that election ballots were intended solely for parliamentary elections, not for a non-existent council. He referred to the interim government’s order as a “document of deception.”

Opposition MPs, however, argued that the July uprising represented the people’s “constituent power,” or fundamental authority. From this perspective, they contend that a referendum is both a legitimate and necessary mechanism for implementing the July Charter.

Comilla-4 MP Hasnat Abdullah criticised selective adherence to the Constitution, warning that accepting some provisions while ignoring others creates governance uncertainty and weakens democratic practice.

Dhaka-12 MP Saiful Alam Khan said the July movement reflects a collective aspiration for a just state, not any single party, stressing the need for structural reforms, including balancing the prime minister’s powers and overhauling the Election Commission and judiciary.

Pabna-1 MP Nazibur Rahman said the focus must now shift to implementation, raising key legal questions over the President’s order – its status as law, limits of authority, the roles of Parliament and the High Court, the activation of “constituent power,” and whether constitutional amendment alone is sufficient.