Leader of the Opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad, Dr Shafiqur Rahman spoke today in the Jatiya Sangsad session. Photo: Video Screenshot

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.