Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Professor Ali Riaz. File photo

DHAKA, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) - Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Professor Ali Riaz has said the core message of the July Charter is to restore people’s rights for which people liberated the country in 1971 and for which a mass uprising took place in 2024. 

“After traversing a long and bloodstained path, an opportunity has once again emerged, 54 years later, to restore the people’s rights. We will not lose this opportunity through negligence,” he said, according to a press release.

Professor Ali Riaz made the remarks while exchanging views with members of the Buddhist and Christian communities as part of referendum campaign and voter motivation efforts.
 
Buddhist and Christian Religious Welfare Trust organized the programme at the auditorium of Dharmarajika Buddhist temple at Basabo in the capital.

The chief adviser’s special assistant said a democratic and humane Bangladesh will be established if “Yes” vote won in the upcoming referendum on July Charter.

He said July Charter will ensure the religious rights of every citizen and establish a society based on equality, human dignity, and social justice-where the state will not discriminate between individuals on the basis of religious belief.
 
The Charter will guarantee equal rights for all as citizens, he added.

Ali Riaz said to rescue the state from the grip of fascism, widespread reforms are necessary by changing the existing system. 

It is the demand of the time to vote “Yes” in the upcoming referendum to achieve those reforms, he said.

He said as per the constitution, all powers of the Republic belong to the people but people have been deprived of it. 

Ali Riaz said participation in the referendum is essential as a matter of conscience so that the future of Bangladesh does not resemble its past. 

“Remember, through victory in the referendum, it is possible to build the state system you desire,” he said.

Regarding the appointment and responsibilities of the President, the Special Assistant said that in the past everything happened at the will of the Prime Minister. 

According to the Constitution, the President cannot independently take any decision except appointing the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice. 

He said constitutional institutions such as the Election Commission, the Public Service Commission Secretariat, and the appointment of judges in the judiciary are carried out by the President. In reality, however, those are done according to the wishes of the head of government, he said.

Speaking on Article 70 of the Constitution, Dr. Riaz said it is like putting scotch tape over the mouths of ruling party MPs. This provision is a major obstacle to the development of a democratic system, he added.

To overcome this, the reform proposal suggests that MPs must remain loyal to their party only in the case of finance bills and votes of confidence, while being allowed to express independent opinions on other matters, he said.

As a special guest, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haidar said the core objective of the Proclamation of Independence was to ensure that issues such as social justice and human values are implemented with dignity.

He said they want a society where a child’s identity will be determined by merit, acquired knowledge, and effort. 

Haidar said misinformation is being spread claiming that voting “Yes” in the referendum would remove “Bismillah” from the Constitution and eliminate full faith and trust in Allah, calling such claims bogus. He urged everyone not to be misled by such propaganda.

Bhabesh Chakma, Vice Chairman of the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust chaired the event while Religious Affairs Secretary Md. Kamal Uddin, Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust Secretary Joy Dutta Barua, Christian Religious Welfare Trust Trustee Pius Costa , among others, spoke.