Bangladesh ’s sweeping “July Charter” for state reform, formulated in the wake of last year’s deadly student uprising, gained support from most political parties on Friday, but its signing ceremony was overshadowed by street clashes and the absence of a key group that refused to participate.

The charter seeks to reshape the country’s politics and institutions and give constitutional recognition to the 2024 uprising that forced Sheikh Hasina , a long-time prime minister, to flee to India.

Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, said the signing of the charter marked a major step toward restoring political order and preparing for national elections scheduled for February 2026.

“It’s the birth of a new Bangladesh,” Yunus said at the ceremony.

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