Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Muhammad Shahjahan said that the government’s decision to hold a referendum on the same day as the national election is an act of disregarding the people’s bloodshed and mass movement.
He made the remark while speaking as the chief guest at a rally held on Friday afternoon at the northern gate of Anderkilla Shahi Jame Mosque, organized by Chattogram City Jamaat-e-Islami to press for their 5-point demand.
“We are once again seeing dark clouds gather over the political sky of Bangladesh. By announcing the national election and referendum on the same day, the people of Bangladesh have been thrown into confusion,” he said.
“This move undermines fundamental reforms, shrinks the democratic transition of Bangladesh, and narrows the path toward building a country that meets public aspirations. People, especially the youth, who led the July revolution, know what is going on and are aware of this conspiracy. Some advisers have misled the honorable Chief Adviser Dr Yunus and pushed the country towards a new crisis.”
The Jamaat leader said the Advisory Council was formed as a result of the blood-bather ‘July Revolution’ but unfortunately there is no budget allocated for the July referendum.
“The people of Bangladesh do not want the referendum and the national election to be held on the same day. The people want the historic July uprising to be given full honour. And so, the referendum cannot be mixed with the national election. We do not accept—and will not accept—the referendum and national election being held on the same day.”
“The referendum must be held before the national election. Otherwise, patriotic citizens will be forced to take to the streets again to claim their rights. We are trying to maintain stability in Bangladesh. But if the government fails to make the right decision, the people will have no choice but to take to the streets—and no one will be able to suppress them,” Shahjahan said.
He said that fulfilling the 5-point demand to resolve the political deadlock, restore civil rights, and ensure the neutrality of the Election Commission are needs of the time. If decisions such as the referendum continue to be taken without consulting the public, the democratic structure of the country will weaken further.
Muhammad Nazrul Islam, member of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Central Majlis-e-Shura and Ameer of Chattogram Metropolitan Unit, presided over the event conducted by city secretary and Chattogram-2 (Fatikchhari) parliamentary candidate Principal Muhammad Nurul Amin.
Nazrul Islam said, “We are standing at the edge of a critical moment. The future of the country, the voting rights of the people, and the moral foundation of the state—all are passing through deep crisis. The most peaceful, acceptable, and people-driven solution to this crisis is to hold the referendum before the national election.”
He said the behaviour of the interim government has repeatedly shown that they are keen to satisfy a particular party and it is pushing the country into deeper crisis.
He added that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is committed to restoring the people’s right to decision-making through peaceful movements and mass awakening and so, they want a participatory political solution.
Central Majlis-e-Shura members and Assistant Secretary of Chattogram City Mohammad Ullah, Faisal Muhammad Yunus, Chattogram City Organizing Secretary and Chattogram-10 parliamentary candidate Principal Shamsuzzaman Helali, President of the City Labour Welfare Federation SM Lutfor Rahman, and Chattogram-11 parliamentary candidate Shafiul Alam, spoke at the rally, among others.
