Jamaat, allies seek Nov referendum on July Charter’s legal basis
Staff Reporter:
Jamaat-e-Islami and seven like-minded political parties have announced a new series of political programmes pressing a five-point demand, including holding the next parliamentary election under a proportional representation (PR) system and organising a national referendum in November to give legal effect to the July Charter.
At a press conference held at the Jatiya Press Club’s Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall on Sunday, Khilafat Majlis Secretary General Ahmad Abdul Kader announced the joint programme. Jamaat’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar, explained why they were continuing street agitation despite having signed the July Charter.
The announced programmes include a protest rally and march in Dhaka today (Monday), similar events in all divisional cities on October 25, and rallies in district towns on October 27. Ahmad Abdul Kader
warned that if their demands are not met by October 27, they would call for a nationwide movement.
The five-point demand includes the issuance of the July National Charter implementation order and holding a referendum on it within November; introducing proportional representation in both houses of the next parliament; ensuring a level playing field for a free, fair, and acceptable election; visible trials of what they called the “fascist regime’s” crimes, repression, and corruption; and banning the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance, whom they termed “collaborators of autocracy.”
Ahmad Abdul Kader said in his written statement that the coalition has long been demanding PR-based elections to curb the influence of money, muscle power, and electoral malpractice, and to ensure the emergence of a more competent and representative legislature. “Most political parties, intellectuals, journalists, columnists, writers, researchers, academics, and professionals in Bangladesh have expressed support for elections under the PR system,” he claimed.
Bangladesh Development Party (BDP) formally joined the coalition on Sunday, increasing the number of participating parties to eight. The other parties include Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khilafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA).
Explaining why the alliance remains active on the streets, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said that although the like-minded parties signed the July Charter, key steps such as issuing the implementation order and holding the referendum are still pending. “The Charter does not specify when these processes will take place. That is why we have announced fresh programmes even after signing it,” he said.
The press conference was moderated by Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad. Among others, Islami Andolan Bangladesh Secretary General Principal Yunus Ali, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party Secretary General Maulana Musa bin Izhar, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan Nayebe Amir Maulana Mujibur Rahman Hamidi, JAGPA Vice-President and spokesperson Rashed Pradhan, BDP Joint Secretary Laskar Tajvir, and Islami Andolan Joint Secretary and spokesperson Gazi Ataur Rahman were present.
While Jamaat and its allies have continued to push for a PR-based 13th parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has opposed the idea. Meanwhile, National Citizens’ Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam recently questioned Jamaat’s motives behind raising the PR demand, calling it a “calculated political deception.”