The fundamental document of post-July Revolution state reform, the “July National Charter,” will be implemented in its exact form as agreed upon and signed by political parties, announced Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad. He confirmed that a bill will soon be presented in the National Parliament to enforce the charter through the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.
The Minister made these statements during a press briefing following a crucial meeting of the Parliamentary Special Committee on Constitutional Reform with political parties at the National Parliament building on Sunday (September 20, 2026).
During the briefing, the Home Minister clarified: “Beyond the July Charter, our electoral manifesto contained several key reform proposals that received public mandate. Those popular aspirations will also be reflected in the constitutional amendments. However, there is no scope for unilateral constitutional revision.” Representatives from 17 registered and active political parties attended the session.
Addressing the structure of a bicameral legislature within a unitary state model, the Home Minister noted: “Bicameral parliaments are traditionally found in federal or provincial political systems. While such a need was not previously felt in our unitary state, there is no constitutional bar to establishing an Upper House in the changed political landscape. Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia originally proposed an Upper House council comprising distinguished citizens and intellectuals, a vision reflected in our 31-point platform and election manifesto.”
To ensure the timely and efficient execution of development projects, the government is initiating a change in the national financial cycle. A proposal will be introduced to shift the official fiscal year from the current July 1–June 30 schedule to an April 1–March 30 cycle.
Refuting claims regarding opposition maneuvers, Salahuddin Ahmad stated: “Allegations that the BNP intends to bypass the July Charter using its numerical majority are completely baseless. The door remains open for parties that have not yet signed the charter to participate in discussions. Our target is to conclude all political dialogues by December 2026 and submit the final report.”
