The European Union’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Michael Miller, has hailed the signing of the “July Charter” as a significant step toward political consensus and reform as the country moves toward national elections expected in early 2026. 

In a post following the ceremony on Friday, Miller described the document as setting out a broad agreement on fundamental reforms. 

The July National Charter 2025—signed by representatives of 25 political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami—is intended to guide the next phase of Bangladesh’s political transition. 

It follows months of dialogue led by interim authorities and a National Consensus Commission, and comes amid preparations for elections targeted for early 2026. 

EU engagement at the event underscored the bloc’s stated commitment to supporting democratic processes and governance reforms in Bangladesh. 

Brussels has repeatedly signalled readiness to offer technical cooperation—potentially including election observation—while stressing that election timing and modalities are sovereign decisions for Bangladesh. 

Debate over the charter’s implementation continues among signatories and non-signatories alike, with differing views on legal enforceability and sequencing of reforms. 

Nonetheless, the signing has been widely framed by supporters as an important waypoint in efforts to stabilise institutions and set rules for a competitive national vote. 

SMS/