Jamaat reiterates for pre-election referendum
Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s nayeb-e-ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has said that while his party hopes the upcoming national election will be held on schedule, the implementation of the July National Charter — a reform framework backed by most political parties — must not be delayed under any circumstances.
Speaking at a briefing at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, on Wednesday, following a meeting with a visiting Commonwealth delegation, Taher demanded that a national referendum on the Charter be held before the parliamentary election, even if that means postponing the polls.
“The referendum before the national election is the right approach,” Taher said. “The referendum concerns the reform process, while the election determines state power — the two are of completely different character.”
The Commonwealth delegation was led by Linford Andrews, adviser to the Commonwealth’s Electoral Support Division and head of the pre-election assessment mission.
Other members included Dinusha Panditaratne, Nancy Kanyago, Sarthak Rai, and Madonna Lynch. Representing Jamaat were secretary general Mia Golam Porwar, assistant secretary general ATM Masum, and central publicity and media secretary Matiur Rahman Akand, among others.
Taher said the national referendum must not be tied to the election process. “If, for any reason, the national election cannot be held on time — though we hope, Inshallah, that it will — the July Charter must still be passed. Linking the two processes together could push the Charter into uncertainty,” he warned.
He urged the government to immediately announce a date for the referendum and to issue an order establishing the National Constitutional Council (NCC), a body envisioned in the Charter to oversee constitutional reforms. “Once such an order is issued, the referendum could be held soon afterward,” he said, adding that if announced in early November, it could be conducted by the end of the month.
According to Taher, the referendum would require far less time and cost than a national election and would “generate a wave of voter enthusiasm.” He said political parties supporting reform and the ‘Yes’ vote would mobilise voters nationwide, boosting public engagement with the process.
Taher also called for the installation of CCTV cameras at all polling centres, saying that opposition to such measures “raises questions about intent.” He further demanded that law enforcement agencies, including the army, RAB, and BGB, be deployed to ensure a free, fair, and accountable vote.
Responding to a question, Taher opposed holding the referendum and the national election on the same day, arguing that such an arrangement would reduce the significance of the reform process. “If both are held together, parties will focus on ensuring their candidates’ victories, and the referendum will lose importance,” he said.
Taher concluded by reaffirming Jamaat’s commitment to both electoral reform and democratic participation. “The Charter represents reform, and reform cannot wait,” he said. “The referendum must come first — only then will the election truly reflect the will of a reformed republic.”