Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Professor Ali Riaz on Saturday said the concentration of power in the hands of a single individual cannot be prevented without building strong constitutional institutions.
He said ensuring victory for the ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum is essential to curb such concentration of power and to strengthen the foundations of constitutional institutions.
Prof Riaz made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a departmental exchange meeting organised by the Divisional Commissioner’s Office at the Divisional Sports Complex in Sylhet city to promote the referendum and motivate voters. Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haider attended the programme as a special guest.
As Chief Coordinator of the Public Awareness Campaign for the 13th National Parliament Election and the referendum, Prof Riaz said one individual had repeatedly amended the constitution to accumulate power, using it as a means to legitimise unlawful authority and depriving people of their voting rights.
“There is no alternative to strengthening constitutional institutions to eradicate this fascist system permanently,” he said.
He added that the implementation of the July Charter through a referendum is not the sole agenda of the interim government, describing it as a consensus document achieved after nine months of discussions, analysis and review involving all political parties.
“Through the implementation of this charter, the debt owed to thousands of students and citizens who sacrificed their lives during the mass uprising of 2024 will be repaid,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the participation of public servants in the referendum campaign, Prof Riaz said the Representation of the People Ordinance does not prohibit government employees from taking part in referendum-related activities.
“There are precedents of government-backed referendum campaigns in many countries. Therefore, public servants in Bangladesh can also participate freely,” he said.
Referring to what he described as misinformation surrounding the referendum, Prof Riaz said rumours were being spread that the implementation of the July National Charter would erase the Liberation War or remove ‘Bismillah’ from the constitution.
“The July Uprising was organised to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh. The spirit of the Liberation War of 1971 was not fully realised even after 54 years, which led to the mass uprising of 2024,” he said, adding that the July Charter seeks to uphold the spirit of 1971.
He urged people to seize the opportunity achieved through the sacrifices, bloodshed and repression endured by many.
Monir Haider said people must choose either ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in the referendum, stressing that the choice would determine whether the country remains free from fascism.
He said many mothers lost their children during the 2024 mass uprising and warned that a return of fascism could recreate such tragedies. “Ensuring victory for the ‘Yes’ vote is a moral responsibility to prevent that,” he added.
The meeting, chaired by Divisional Commissioner Khan Md Reza-un-Nabi, was also addressed by Religious Affairs Secretary Md Kamal Uddin, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr A M Sarwar Uddin Chowdhury, Sylhet Range DIG Md Mushfequr Rahman, Police Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury and Barrister Nazir Ahmed.
Government officials from various districts and upazilas of Sylhet division, along with teachers, religious leaders, NGO representatives, dignitaries and journalists, attended the programme.