Eight political parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam on Thursday submitted separate memorandums to Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, placing a number of similar demands like arrangements for a referendum on the July National Charter 2025 in November before the 13th parliamentary election announced to be held in early February.
Other common demands include ensuring the level-playing field during the next general election and keeping a provision proposed in the Representation of the People Order (RPO) that will not allow alliance candidates to run the election without a symbol of their respective party.
The seven other parties are Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Nezami Islami Party, Khelafat Andolon, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa) and Bangladesh Development Party.
After the meeting with the CEC at the latter’s office in Nirbachan Bhaban, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Abdul Halim told reporters that they discussed the current issues, the July National Charter which was signed by 25 political parties.
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“We’ve urged the EC to complete the referendum by November. Some parties have suggested changes to the amended RPO, but we have insisted that the RPO should remain unchanged,” he said.
When asked whether they had issued an ultimatum to the CEC, the Jamaat Assistant Secretary-General said, “We did not issue an ultimatum today. However, our eight parties in a meeting decided that after a few days of this memorandum, their national leaders will sit on November 3 to review the situation and announce further actions, InshaAllah.”
Abdul Halim said the CEC listened to them and discussed their role in considering the demands. “Those who go against the July Charter will surely face the wrath of the people,” he added.
He emphasised that holding the referendum before the national election is crucial to avoid questioning the legitimacy of the polls.
About the RPO amendment, he said the council of advisers approved it (RPO amendment ordinance 2025) and it must remain unchanged. There should be no change. The government must implement it as approved by the interim government, he said.
The Jamaat leader said they also urged for ensuring a level playing field for the election.
Islami Andolon Bangladesh Secretary-General Maulana Yunus Ahmed, its presidium member Ashraf Ali Akand, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Secretary-General Maulana Jalaluddin, Khelafat Majlis Secretary-General Dr Ahmad Abdul Kader, Bangladesh Nezami Islami Party Musa Bin Nezar, Khelafat Andolon Nayeb Amir Maulana Mujibur Rahman Hamidi, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa) Vice-President Rashed Pradhan, Bangladesh Development Party General Secretary Nijamul Haq Naim, Jamaat Central Executive Member Mobarak Hossain, among others, were present at the meeting with the CEC.
Earlier in the morning, the eight parties held two short rallies in front of the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon and near the Metro Rail station. During the rallies, the parties presented five demands:
The demands are Issuance of orders to implement the July National Charter and hold a referendum by November; introduction of proportional representation (PR) in both parliamentary chambers in the next general election; ensuring a level playing field for free, fair, and acceptable elections; visible prosecution of all atrocities, genocide, and corruption committed by the ‘fascist’ government; and banning the activities of the National Party, accused of supporting autocracy and the 14-party alliance.
Jamaat demands referendum over July Charter before national election
