Staff Reporter:
In a bold political move, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has urged the government to hold a national refer-endum before the upcoming general election, aiming to establish a legal mandate for the implementation of the July National Charter.
“All political parties, including BNP, support holding a referendum to make the Charter legally valid. But we want it before the elections,” said Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad.
He came up with the demand while speaking to reporters during a break on the fourth day of talks with various political parties at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Sunday.
When asked about the timing of the referendum, Azad said the people of Bangladesh are not very famil-iar with referendums, but it can still be done smoothly.
“We think it can be held in November or December, without affecting the national election. It can even be done before the election schedule is announced. If we keep the process simple and avoid making it too difficult for the public, both the nation and its leaders will benefit,” he said.
Azad believes that if the referendum is held to give legal backing to the Charter, it will be widely ac-cepted. “Such a referendum will not be challenged. It will not be rejected in Parliament.”
He also said there is no difference between Jamaat and BNP on this issue. “Even if the referendum re-sults go against us, we are ready to accept the people’s decision. We will make compromises and have no objection.”
Azad mentioned that all parties have agreed on holding a referendum. The Election Commission will organize it, but the government must first direct the Commission to do so, he said.
He said Jamaat has always spoken in favor of political reforms and that most parties now support a ref-erendum to provide a legal foundation for the July Charter.
Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan and lawyer Shishir Monir were also present.
