Ali Riaz, special assistant to the chief adviser, has termed the referendum as a critical next step towards establishing the rights for which martyrs sacrificed their lives during the July uprising.
Speaking as the chief guest at a divisional exchange meeting in Sylhet on Saturday, Riaz stated that there are no legal barriers preventing government officials from campaigning in favour of the “Yes” vote in the upcoming referendum.
He clarified that neither the existing Constitution, the Representation of the People Order (RPO), the July National Charter Implementation Order 2025, nor the referendum ordinance prohibits republic employees from advocating for positive change.
Riaz, also the chief coordinator of Referendum Campaign, asserted that those claiming otherwise are spreading misinformation with ulterior motives.
Addressing the moral concerns raised by some, Riaz questioned the ethics of those who would deny the sacrifices of the youth. He emphasised that the current interim government is not a traditional “caretaker” administration but one that derives its legitimacy from the July uprising.
Mandate for state reform
The special assistant explained that the government is working on three mandates: reform, justice, and elections. He noted that while the government ensures a conducive environment for justice and elections, its primary mandate is state reform.
Professor Riaz dismissed claims that such a referendum is unprecedented, noting that between 1972 and 2024, at least 48 referendums were held worldwide, where governments actively campaigned for the “Yes” vote.
He further rejected the notion that the public would not understand the complexities of the referendum, calling such views an insult to the people who led the uprisings of 1969 and 2024.
Breaking the cycle of fascism
The meeting highlighted the need to move away from a system where a prime minister holds “immense absolute power.”
Riaz recalled how the caretaker system was abolished in 2011 based on the whim of a single individual, despite a committee’s recommendation to retain it. He stated that the referendum is designed to end such “child’s play” with the Constitution and constitutional institutions.
Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider warned that although the previous fascist ruler has been removed, the possibility of fascism returning remains unless systemic loopholes are closed.
He described the referendum as a “golden opportunity” to finally establish the equality, human dignity, and social justice promised in the 1971 Proclamation of Independence.
Administrative Support Religious Affairs Secretary Md Kamal Uddin, attending as a special guest, remarked that it is the responsibility of republic employees to campaign for the “Yes” vote to ensure a better future for the next generation.
The meeting, held at the Sylhet Divisional Sports Complex, was chaired by Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Khan Md Reza-un-Nabi.
Other speakers included Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Vice-Chancellor Professor AM Sarwaruddin Chowdhury, Sylhet Range DIG Md Mushfequr Rahman, Sylhet Police Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury, and constitutional expert Barrister Nazir Ahmad.
Top officials from various departments, religious leaders, and civil society representatives were also present there.
