File photo

SANGSAD BHABAN, April 19, 2026 (BSS) - Treasury bench lawmakers today said the opposition wants to grab the 2024 July Uprising as their own success saying that it was a part of democratic movement waged by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

The July Uprising was a part of democratic movement for the last seventeen years led by Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. No particular party can claim its success solely, they said.

The treasury bench lawmakers said this while addressing the discussion on thanks giving motion on the president speech held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban here with Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal in the chair.

"I had participated in the movement from Jatrabari and I had participated in the movement under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in that time," said BNP lawmaker Nazrul Islam Azad of Narayanganj-2.

With the instruction of Prime Minister, we had participated in the July Uprising violating the curfew, said the lawmaker.

Recalling the role of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during the July Uprising, another ruling party lawmaker Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas of Pabna-5 said the incumbent prime minister at that time instructed us to spontaneously participate in the movement to oust the fascist regime; otherwise, we would be confined in the fascist regime for long period.

Following his instruction and guidelines, Biswas said they were able to launch the anti-fascist movement largely by making a huge gathering of workers.

Countering the government position in implementing the July Charter, opposition lawmaker M Anwarul Islam of Kurigram-1 said students and people participated in the July Uprising against the one-party rule, so the current government must implement the charter in line with the referendum where 70 per cent people casted their votes to reform the constitution.

The first session of the 13th parliament began on 12 March with President Mohammed Shahabuddin delivering his address.

The Business Advisory Committee later fixed 50 hours for discussion on the speech. Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam moved the motion of thanks on the president's address, which was seconded by Whip Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu.

Regarding the implementation of the 'July Charter', Kalimuddin Ahmed of Sunamganj-5 said the July Charter will be implemented in line with the commitment expressed by the government but it should be implemented following a certain method.

A total of 11 lawmakers took part in the discussion and they also highlighted various issues including infrastructural needs in their respective areas alongside the implementation of the election pledges committed by the present government.

BNP lawmakers Monjurul Islam of Dinajpur-1, Md Sadique Reaz of Dinajpur-2, Sheikh Farid Ahmed of Chandpur-3, Mostafizur Rahman of Naogaon-1, Fakhrul Islam of Noakhali-5, M Nasir Uddin of Sunamganj-2 and opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e Islam lawmaker Obaidullah Salafi of Nilphamari-3, also participated in the discussion.