(BSS)- Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Professor Ali Riaz has said the July Charter has been formulated to block the return of dictatorship permanently in Bangladesh.

He said the existing constitution has scopes for the emergence of authoritarian rule, he said while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organized to motivate voters ahead of the upcoming referendum at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) auditorium in Sylhet.

“The nation had been crushed under personalist dictatorship for the last 16 years and waiting for liberation. That is why the July Charter has been formulated so that no more dictators can emerge,” he said.

Riaz noted that although the mass uprising of July 2024 gave the people apparent freedom from the clutches of fascism, this freedom would be fragile without structural constitutional safeguard.

He added that implementation of the July Charter depends on winning of “Yes” vote in the forthcoming referendum.

Responding to question on who represents the “Yes” camp, Riaz said, “You, I and all of us are candidates for ‘Yes’. Because ‘Yes’ will open the way for all to build a humane and democratic Bangladesh.”

He said the people of the country no longer want dictatorship or misrule and aspire to build an enlightened future- a new day marked by equality, dignity and joy.

“A day will come when people will not suffer for fear of being enforced disappearances, no fear of being arrested in fabricated cases,” he said, describing it as the day

Freedom fighters in 1971 and students and citizens in July mass uprising have made sacrifice with a dream to get rid of forced disappearance or arrest in false cases.

Calling the July Mass Uprising an extraordinary achievement in national history, Riaz said it has unexpectedly created a historic opportunity to establish democracy, justice and human rights in Bangladesh.

While several reforms have already been initiated, he emphasized the need for deeper and more far-reaching reforms.

“Keeping this goal in mind, the July Charter has been formulated on the basis of consensus among all political parties,” he said.

He added that the direct consent of the people is essential to implement the charter which will be manifested by the referendum.

Explaining the significance of “Yes” vote, Riaz said it would ensure that the government and opposition work together to form a caretaker government and an independent Election Commission.

He said the ruling party would no longer be able to amend the constitution unilaterally, as public consent would be mandatory for major constitutional changes.

Under the proposed reforms, he said the deputy speaker and chairs of key parliamentary committees would be elected from the opposition bench, none would be allowed to hold the position of the Prime Minister for more than 10 years.

“Judiciary would function independently, as a result, justice will no longer be denied,” he said, adding that a successful referendum would permanently close the path to fascism.

The discussion was attended by several prominent academics, including Sylhet Science and Technology University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. A. M. Sarwaruddin Chowdhury, Sylhet Agricultural University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Alimul Islam, Vice Chancellor Sunamgonj Science and Technology University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Nizam Uddin, and Habiganj University of Science and Technology Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Saeed Sayem Uddin Ahmed, among others.