Parties partaking in the joint protests taking place nationwide with their 5-point demands held a joint press conference with the aim of realising their demands, including issuing the implementation order for the July National Charter and holding a referendum on that order by this November.
At a press conference, held on Sunday, at the Juhur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club, leaders of the parties read out a written statement which stated that no steps are being taken to implement the people’s demands.
“Under these circumstances, there is no alternative to a mass movement. Therefore, this street movement is aimed at issuing the implementation order for the July National Charter, holding a referendum on that order by November, and based on that, holding a free, fair, and credible election in February to establish the people’s right to vote and build Bangladesh as a just and accountable democratic statement,” they read.
Describing the background of the movement, the written statement said that after the successful mass uprising of July–August 2024, the autocrat Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country. The country’s administrative structure collapsed. In the absence of a government, a constitutional vacuum was created, and many provisions of the constitution became ineffective.
In such a situation, an interim government was formed as the ultimate expression of the people’s will and based on national consensus. The source and basis of this government’s legitimacy is the people’s will as enshrined in Article 7 of the Constitution. According to that will, an implementation order for the July Charter must be issued.
Highlighting the rationale for the PR (proportional representation) system, the written statement said that a roadmap for the national parliamentary election has already been determined. They added, “We have been calling for necessary measures to ensure a free, fair, impartial, and fear-free credible election in line with the announced roadmap. Based on our past experience, we have been strongly demanding elections under the PR system to ensure that every vote counts, prevent the use of black money, stop the capture of polling centres, prevent muscle power displays and various irregularities and malpractices in voting, and to create a quality parliament and capable lawmakers.
“Most of the political parties in Bangladesh, along with intellectuals, journalists, columnists, writers, researchers, educationists, and people from various professions, have agreed with the demand for elections under the PR system,” they said.
The joint protests’ demands are as follows:
Issue the implementation order for the July National Charter and hold a referendum on that order by November.
Introduce the PR (proportional representation) system in both houses in the upcoming national election.
Ensure a level playing field for all to hold a free, fair, and credible election.
Make visible the trials of all oppression, persecution, massacres, and corruption committed by the fascist government.
Ban the activities of the autocrat’s collaborators – the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance.
In support of the above demands, the following programmes were announced as part of the fourth phase of the ongoing movement: A protest rally and procession in the capital on 20 October, protest rallies and processions in all divisional cities on 25 October, and protest rallies and processions in all district towns on 27 October.
Issuing a warning at the press conference, it was stated that if the demands are not met by October 27, a call for a broader nationwide movement will be announced.
From the press conference, the leaders made a fervent appeal to the people of the country to unite in implementing these programmes and to realise the people’s demands.
Those present at the press conference included: Professor Mia Golam Porwar, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami; Principal Yunus Ahmad, Secretary General of Islami Andolon Bangladesh; Dr. Ahmad Abdul Kader, Secretary General of Khelafat Majlish; Maulana Jalal Uddin, Secretary General of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish; Maulana Musa bin Izhar, Secretary General of Nezame Islam Party; Maulana Mujibur Rahman Hamidi, Nayebe Ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon; Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, Spokesperson of Islami Andolon Bangladesh; Engineer Rashed Pradhan, Vice President and Spokesperson of JagPA; Nizamul Haque Nayeem, Secretary General of Bangladesh Development Party; and others.
