News Flash
SANGSAD BHABAN, March 31, 2026 (BSS) - Leader of the Opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, today said that the July Movement has created new hope among the people for establishing a just-based state following the end of prolonged misrule in the country.
He made the call while taking part in a discussion on the motion for
summoning the session of the Constitution Reform Council in parliament today.
The Opposition Leader placed the motion in the House under the Section 62 of
the Rules of Procedure for summoning the session of the Constitution Reform
Council in line with July National Charter (Constitution Reform)
Implementation Order, 2025.
Dr. Rahman said that although Bangladesh has completed 55 years of
independence, but the aspirations of the people have not yet been fully
realized. He noted that while several governments were formed and changed
over time, people's voting rights and democratic practices were repeatedly
obstructed.
He said Bangladesh is a democratic state where governments are formed through
people's votes. "However, in reality, people's voting rights were curtailed
many times and in some cases completely denied," he said.
The opposition leader said that although a multi-party democratic system was
introduced in the early years after independence, the establishment of one-
party rule later weakened the democratic structure and eroded the spirit of
the Constitution, reducing the value of people's votes.
He said that democratic continuity was not maintained even after successive
governments came to power. Referring to the government formed in 2009, he
alleged that prolonged misrule was established during its more than 15-and-a-
half-year tenure.
During this period, he alleged, widespread repression was carried out against
dissenting voices, and many members of Parliament were also victims of
persecution.
He further claimed that incidents of enforced disappearance, extrajudicial
killings and political repression increased significantly during that time.
He said many people were forced to leave the country, countless families were
affected, mothers lost their children, women became widows and many children
were orphaned, while constitutional institutions of the state became weak and
politicized.
The opposition leader said people had long resisted this situation, and its
ultimate expression was seen in the July Movement of 2024, where people from
all walks of life-including youth, farmers, workers, students, women and even
children-participated.
He said the movement was not limited to any single group but was a movement
of the entire nation, which led to a significant political change on August
5.
In this context, Shafiqur said, a strong aspiration has emerged among the
people to establish a justice-based state ensuring equal rights and justice
for all.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that with this objective in mind, initiatives have
been taken to build national consensus through extensive discussions among
political parties and stakeholders.
He added that the National Consensus Commission formed by the interim
government has finalized several reform proposals, and the President had
issued an order based on those proposals, which is expected to serve as the
foundation for future reforms.
He expressed hope that these initiatives would help establish an effective,
justice-based and democratic state system in the country.
