A Correspondent:
Rajshahi: The date of the upcoming referendum must be changed and held before the national election to ensure a fair and credible process, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said yesterday.
“The government’s order is not a divine message that cannot be changed,” he said while addressing a Rajshahi divisional rally at the historic Madrasah Ground, organised by an alliance of eight parties led by the Jamaat-e-Islami.
He alleged that the national election and referendum were scheduled for the same day due to ‘bad ad-vice’ from within the interim government, which he said could trigger a major crisis.
The Jamaat leader warned the administration and law enforcement agencies not to engage in any plot to establish neo-fascism. “The people want a referendum before the national elections.”
Parwar claimed that the alliance of eight parties is expanding, with more political groups expressing in-terest in joining.
He said successive political parties since independence have been accused of extortion, corruption, and terrorism—problems that must be eradicated to build a new Bangladesh.
He said corruption would be shown a “red card,” while terrorism and repression would be eliminated.
Dissents, he said, would not be suppressed but given dignity, and Bangladesh’s youths would be devel-oped into skilled human resources through moral, technical and production-oriented education.
Parwar hoped that this broader alliance could play a key role in achieving the vision of a new Bangla-desh.
Despite the election date being announced, Parwar expressed doubt over whether the polls would be fair.
He reiterated their previously announced five demands, including a level playing field, the introduction of a proportional representation (PR) system, recognition of the July Charter, and the trial of ‘fascists’.
He also pointed to a ‘severe deterioration’ in law and order, citing the shooting and stabbing of two peo-ple in broad daylight on the Khulna court premises.
He questioned how the administration could ensure election security if it could not prevent a murder in front of a court.
The Jamaat leader urged the Chief Adviser and Home Adviser to ensure a level playing field, refrain from trying to bring any party to power secretly, and avoid any repeat of vote-rigging.
