Islami Andolan Bangladesh has submitted a memorandum to Chief Adviser Muhmmad Yunus through deputy commissioners (DCs) in all districts, urging the government to hold a referendum before the upcoming national election to give legal status to the July Charter.
The party warned that the government’s failure to do so could turn the July Uprising into a “failed movement”. As part of the second-phase simultaneous movement to press for five-point demands, district leaders of the party submitted the memorandum. The DCs received the memorandum on behalf of the government.
The key demands include implementation of July Charter and holding of a referendum on it before the national election, and introduction of the PR system in both chambers of parliament.
In the memorandum, the party reminded the chief adviser of the circumstances that led to the formation of the interim government following the successful mass uprising in July-August 2024.
It stated that the interim government was formed based on national consensus to fulfil the people’s aspirations, ensure justice for mass killings, reform state institutions, and block the return of autocracy.
The party noted that 166 proposals were discussed in dialogue with political parties based on reform commission recommendations, and 84 of them were finalized. Some proposals remained unresolved due to disagreements among political groups.
Reiterating its long-held stance, the party said it has consistently pushed for granting legal status to the July Charter as a “Doctrine of Necessity”.
It submitted two written proposals to the government — first, to issue a “constitutional order” to legalize the July Charter, and second, to hold a referendum on the issue before the election.
“Without legal backing, the achievements of the uprising and the sacrifices of students and people may end in failure,” the party cautioned.
The memorandum also voiced concern over the upcoming parliamentary elections and called for a “level playing field” to ensure a free, fair, and credible vote.
Islami Andolan has demanded the introduction of the Proportional Representation (PR) system to ensure the value of every vote and the formation of a qualified parliament. It claimed that many political parties, intellectuals, journalists, columnists, writers, researchers, educators, and professionals support this electoral system.
The party said the previous government politicised constitutional institutions, suppressed opposition voices through arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and killings, and held “midnight elections”.
It also accused Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance of siding with the government during the July-August uprising, urging a ban on their political activities as “allies of fascism”.
The party said the implementation of these demands would help restore public trust, stabilise politics, and pave the way for a credible national election in February, enabling Bangladesh to “reach new heights”.
