Adviser Mahfuj Alam on Thursday said that the declaration of the July Revolution might not be made on January 15 as previously planned, as additional time is needed to achieve broader consensus.

“We want to make it an inclusive and unified document,” he told a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy after a meeting of the Council of Advisers, held at the Chief Adviser's Office with CA Dr Muhammad Yunus in the chair.

Mahfuj, however, said the declaration would not face significant delays and would be made once wider agreement is reached. “There was a demand from students to announce it on January 15. Since the government wants to talk to all (stakeholders), it (timeframe) may be extended for some time. But it will not be too late,” he said.

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He said the government will take a decision next week when and how the declaration will be made.

Mahfuj Alam said the government thinks if the declaration is made on part of the students without reaching a wider consensus, the current unity and stability may be hampered.

“We want to make it an inclusive and unified document,” he said.

The Adviser said the dialogue with political parties and other stakeholders of the July uprising will start next week.

He said the government has taken the responsibility to formulate a document in consultation with all stakeholders of the July uprising – not only political parties but also other stakeholders. “We expect that the dialogues (with political parties and other stakeholders) will start and complete next week,” Mahfuj said.

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He said the government will also have talks with socio-cultural organisations and teachers associations alongside the political parties. “But we cannot sit with and talk to everyone. We will talk formally and informally."

The adviser asked the students to show restraint and be patient for some days.

Noting that the students have already given a proposal for the declaration, he said, the government will not issue the declaration but is facilitating the declaration and its process.

“The declaration will come based on everyone's consensus ---Based on the consensus of all political parties, and cultural and social organizations,” he said.

“The government is not issuing any declaration on its own. Rather the proclamation will be prepared and announced based on the students' proposals and everyone's consensus,” said Mahfuj Alam.

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CA’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, deputy press secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were present.