No national elections in the country unless the legal foundation of the July National Charter is given, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami warned Tuesday from a mass rally.
From the Dhaka rally, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman asserted: "There will be no elections in 2026 for those who do not accept the July Revolution. In order to recognize the July Revolution, the July Charter must be given a legal basis. There is no possibility of national elections without the legal foundation of the July Charter."
He was speaking at the rally held at the Paltan intersection to drum up their demands that include the cardinal on seeking legal foundation of the post-uprising July Charter through a referendum before the polls, tentatively set for next February.
Eight like-minded political parties, which have been running simultaneous programmes, organised the gathering on their five-point demands, including issuing a constitutional order to implement the July National Charter, holding a referendum in November, and ensuring a level playing field for all in the elections.
The allied parties are Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Majlis, Nezam-e-Islam Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Development Party and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA).
The Jamaat chief reminds the freedom-loving people of this country have only one thing in mind - a referendum must be held before the national parliament elections.
"All parties are in agreement about the referendum. So why is this bargaining over the date? When we have agreed and signed the July Charter, it is logical to hold the referendum first. Through this, the legal foundation will be created. The next parliamentary elections will be held on this basis," Dr Rahman explains.
The Jamaat leader, however, makes it clear that they, too, want the polls held before the fasting month of Ramadan in February.
"We want the national elections to be held before Ramadan next February. No one should try to create a smokescreen about this. We went to the National Consensus Commission and all the parties gave our opinions. We did not give a dozen notes of dissent from eight parties. We gave a positive opinion in the discussions, considering the proposal reasonable," he told the audience, to applause from the crowds.
Toning up his voice, the Islamic party leader said, "We will remain firm on the referendum issue. We are speaking in polite language, we will speak in polite language. But we will remain firm like the Himalayas on our demands. This demand is the demand of the people, not the demand of any party. This demand is the demand of revolution, this demand is not the demand of fascism."
He concludes: "The people of Bangladesh will not bow to the demands of fascism. Until the demands of the people are met, our movement will continue at a rapid pace."
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