Dhaka, Jan 14 (V7N) — Mahfuz Alam, an advisor to the interim government, announced that a draft declaration of the July Uprising has been prepared and sent to political parties for their input. Speaking at a press conference held at the Foreign Service Academy, he emphasised that the declaration will be finalised based on a consensus among all political parties.

The government has scheduled a meeting with political parties on Thursday, January 16, to address any disagreements and refine the declaration. "The political parties agree on most issues, but there are disagreements on certain points. Parties will consult their experts to clarify their positions," Mahfuz said.

The BNP has expressed the need for additional time to review the draft. Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated, "This is a sensitive and significant matter that requires thorough consideration and cannot be rushed."

Mahfuz, however, stressed the urgency of the matter, saying, "While it is important, it cannot take too much time." The draft will be handed over to the Chief Advisor on Wednesday, January 15, followed by detailed discussions and a public briefing at 3 PM.

When asked about the inclusion of the Jatiya Party in discussions, Mahfuz commented that their participation was deemed unnecessary. "We are clear about their role in the 2018 elections, and their input is not considered reasonable for this process," he said.

The idea of the July Uprising Declaration has sparked widespread debate since it was proposed by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens Committee. The groups had planned to release the declaration at Dhaka's Central Shaheed Minar on December 31 but deferred the announcement after discussions with the interim government.

In a press briefing on December 30, the Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary clarified that the government had taken up the initiative to prepare the declaration based on national consensus. This followed calls from various groups to finalise the declaration by January 15.

The interim government has indicated its intention to transform the declaration into a legal document, binding on any government formed after the next elections. Mahfuz Alam reiterated that the declaration would be published in the presence of all parties and stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, warned during a public meeting in Narayanganj that the government must finalise the declaration by January 15.

As the deadline approaches, all eyes remain on the upcoming discussions and the finalisation of the declaration, which is expected to shape the country’s political landscape significantly.

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