Mon Dec 30 05:10:23 UTC 2024: ## Bangladesh Students to Announce “July Proclamation,” Effectively Repealing 1972 Constitution

**DHAKA, BANGLADESH** – The Anti-Discrimination Students Movement (ADSM), a key player in the overthrow of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government earlier this year, will announce a “July Proclamation” on December 31st, effectively repealing Bangladesh’s 1972 constitution. The announcement, made at a press conference on December 29th by ADSM convener Hasnat Abdullah, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political upheaval.

The proclamation, according to Abdullah, will outline Bangladesh’s future goals and intentions, serving as a legal recognition of the July revolution. A draft of the document blames the 1972 constitution for the country’s problems, including Hasina’s rule, and calls for its reform or annulment. It proposes a new political settlement, paving the way for a new democratic republic. The proclamation will be deemed effective from August 5th, 2024.

The ADSM’s actions come as an interim government commission, led by Prof. Ali Riaz, is already reviewing the constitution. The movement’s demand for annulment will likely significantly influence the commission’s recommendations. Abdullah further stated that the proclamation aims to prevent the return of Awami politics, end Indian hegemony, and build an independent, sovereign Bangladesh.

December 31st will see further political activity in Dhaka, with the Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, holding its first open national council meeting since 2010. The convergence of these events highlights the volatile political landscape of Bangladesh following the July revolution and the ongoing constitutional debate.

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