Few advisers trying to mislead CA: Jamaat Secy
Staff Reporter :
Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has alleged that a few advisers, maintaining secret ties with a particular group, are trying to mislead Chief Adviser of the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus.
He said, “We are observing with deep concern that among the advisers you have appointed, one or two of them have surrounded you and, maintaining secret relations with a particular group, are repeatedly attempting to mislead you and obstruct your unstoppable march toward democratic transition. Please be cautious and stay alert against this.”
He made these remarks on Thursday while addressing a seminar titled “Legal Basis of the July National Charter: Referendum and Proportional Representation (PR) Election System” at the Multipurpose Auditorium of the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) in Dhaka.
Speaking on the legal foundation of the July Charter, the Jamaat leader said, “One major party said the issue should be discussed in the next parliament. They also suggested taking it to court, among other things. This means they were trying to drag Bangladesh into a new conspiracy by creating confusion through talk of the court and the next parliament. But the political parties that had selflessly led the July people’s uprising and envisioned a new liberation for the nation played a heroic role in the Consensus Commission. Ultimately, those major parties had to surrender before that united stance.”
Regarding whether Jamaat-e-Islami will attend tomorrow’s signing ceremony of the National July Charter, Porwar said, “We are considering our position. If we see that there is an opportunity to resolve the remaining issues through discussion – as efforts toward that are ongoing – we will have no objection to joining the signing ceremony. We have received the invitation, and we are reflecting on what role we will play tomorrow.”
Addressing Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, he said, “You came based on the aspirations of the people of this country. You did not come out of personal ambition. You have said clearly that you have no desire to rule the country – that you only wish to hold a free and fair national election and then return to your own work. However, we regret to note that among the advisers you appointed, one or two have surrounded you and, maintaining secret relations with a particular group, are repeatedly attempting to mislead you and obstruct your unstoppable journey toward democratic transition. Please be cautious and stay alert against this.”
Demand for a referendum before the national election
Jamaat Secretary General Golam Porwar also demanded a national referendum before the election and presented arguments in its favor. He said, “If the referendum and the national election are held on the same day, our calculations show that many voters will not be able to cast their votes in time. They will remain in queues, time will run out, and voters will not even know what reforms are being proposed or what the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ options mean in the referendum. Therefore, voters should be given time to think carefully – the referendum must be held before the election.”
He further claimed that November would be the most suitable time to hold the referendum.
Other speakers at the seminar included former Justice Farid Ahmed, Islami Andolon Secretary General Maulana Yunus Ahmed, Presidium Member Ashraf Ali Akon, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) Spokesperson Rashed Pradhan, Nezam-e-Islami Party Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdul Majed, former Secretary Zahidul Islam, and Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Yusuf Ashraf.