Now, writ seeks suspension of July Charter

A writ petition has now been filed with the High Court seeking its order to suspend the July National 
Charter-2025, the state reform proposals introduced by the now-dissolved interim government, led by Prof Muhammad Yunus. 
The writ, filed by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Eunus Ali Akond on Wednesday as a public interest litigation, argued that the charter is inconsistent with the Constitution. 
It comes just a day after a separate writ petition was filed by another lawyer challenging the legality of the referendum, which was held on 12 February, on the implementation of the July Charter.
The writ petition over the July Charter is expected to be heard next week in the HC bench, headed by Justice Razik-Al-Jalil. The chief election commissioner, cabinet and law secretaries, and the National Consensus Commission were made respondents.
Eunus Ali said the writ sought a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why the July Charter should not be declared unconstitutional and court’s directives to suspend its operation until the matter is settled.
He told the media that the country's Constitution contains no provision for a charter of this nature, particularly its proposals for a referendum and a 100-member upper house in Parliament. 
Therefore, the July Charter must be declared illegal and unconstitutional. 
The July Charter was finalised after nearly a year of discussions and dialogue, and it was signed on 17 October 2025. Some political parties, however, differed sharply over how it should be implemented.
On 13 November, an order was issued providing for the charter's implementation through a referendum to be held alongside the 13th parliamentary election, stating that if the “Yes” vote prevailed, a Constitutional Reform Council would be formed comprising the MPs elected through the subsequent parliamentary election with authority to exercise powers related to constitutional reforms.
In the referendum, the proposal for change, meaning "Yes", emerged victorious. The nationwide vote saw a turnout of 60.26%.
According to EC data, over 4.8 crore voters cast ballots in favour of "Yes", while 2.25 crore voted for "No". The referendum was organised to seek public approval for implementing 48 constitutional reform proposals included in the July Charter. In total, the charter contains 84 reform proposals.
Among the key provisions are a 10-year limit on a prime minister's tenure, expanded powers for the President and the introduction of a bicameral legislature.
However, the reform implementation process has faced complications at the outset of the new government's journey. Following the victory of the “Yes” vote, the Constitutional Reform Council was supposed to be formed, comprising representatives elected through the 13th parliamentary election.
Although those elected from the BNP have taken an oath as MPs, they did not take an oath as members of the reform council. However, those elected from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) took two separate oaths- one as MPs and another as members of the Constitutional Reform Council. 
As more than two-thirds of members did not take the oath, the reform council could not be fully constituted.