The Jamaat-e-Islami-led opposition alliance is stepping up efforts to build public support for implementing the referendum results on the July Charter.
The bloc plans meetings, rallies and seminars until the second week of April to mobilise opinion.
After that, it may move towards tougher programmes after 20 April, towards the end of the first parliamentary session, depending on the government’s stance, alliance leaders said.
The session is scheduled to run until 30 April.
The 11-party alliance has representation from four parties in parliament, including the National Citizens Party (NCP), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and a faction of Khelafat Majlis.
Leaders said early pressure on the government over implementing the referendum verdict and the July Charter is key to maintaining the opposition’s relevance.
They also see the issue as central to retaining support among youth and pro-reform groups.
“Nearly 70 per cent of people voted ‘yes’ in favour of implementing the July Charter, but the government is trying to ignore it,” said Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General and Sirajganj-4 Member of Parliament Rafiq-ul Islam Khan.
“The opposition will not accept this. We have already announced a protest in Dhaka on Saturday, and more programmes will follow gradually,” he added.
Tensions have already surfaced in parliament over the July Charter, implementation of the referendum results, formation of a reform council, appointments in the police and Supreme Court, Anti-Corruption Commission appointments, prevention of enforced disappearances, and local government election ordinances.
The first parliamentary session after Eid saw visible friction, with a two-hour discussion scheduled following a written notice by Opposition Leader Shafiqul Rahman on reform issues.
The debate exposed clear divisions over constitutional change.
BNP supports implementation through constitutional amendment, while Jamaat remains firm on pursuing it through constitutional reform.
The opposition staged a walkout on Wednesday.
Despite this, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed accepted an adjournment motion raised by ruling party MP Zainul Abdin Farroque on implementing the “July National Charter-2025” and scheduled another two-hour discussion on 5 April.
“We have no option but to take to the streets,” Shafiqul Rahman said after the walkout.
Following the protest call, the alliance’s liaison committee met in Gulshan on Thursday.
After the meeting, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad announced a protest rally and procession at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram for 4 April.
He also said top alliance leaders would meet again on 7 April.
Opposition MPs said during Thursday’s session break that, given the war situation, the alliance is avoiding programmes that could cause public hardship at this stage.
They also noted BNP’s two-thirds majority in parliament and said the opposition would proceed cautiously.
The immediate goal is to maintain pressure on the government while retaining party workers and pro-reform supporters.
Jamaat and NCP have held several seminars over the past two days in support of implementing the July Charter.
“We are not taking any tactical approach on reforms. The referendum results must be implemented, and we will compel the government to act,” said Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair.
“The government cannot ignore the July Charter or reforms. There is a public mandate in favour of ‘yes’, so we will remain active both in Parliament and on the streets,” said NCP Member Secretary and Rangpur-4 MP Akhtar Hossain.
The government has repeatedly said it will fully implement the July Charter.
However, if it does not respond positively to opposition demands on the implementation process, the alliance is preparing to intensify both parliamentary and street actions.
This could further heat up the political situation in the coming days.
