Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, for those who will not accept the July Revolution, there will be no 2026 election for them. To see the 2026 election, recognition of the July Revolution is required first. And to grant recognition to the July Revolution, the July Charter must be given a legal basis. Without this legal basis there is no possibility of any election.
He also said that, the freedom-loving people of this country desire that a referendum before the national parliamentary election. All parties agree on the referendum — so why this quibbling over the date? When everyone agreed and signed, it was logical that the referendum should come first. Through that, God willing, a legal foundation will be laid and, on that basis, the next national parliamentary election will be held. When that election takes place, there will be no more doubt or suspicion.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said these things while addressing a joint rally of eight political parties as the chief guest at Paltan Mor, the capital, on Tuesday (11 November) at 2:00 p.m., demanding issuance of the order to implement the July National Charter and also for organizing a referendum as part of a five-point program. He said, “We want the national parliamentary election to be held next February prior to the holy month of Ramadan. No one should try to create a smokescreen about this. Do not try to shift the burden onto others.”
The Jamaat Ameer said, “We went to the National Consensus Commission and submitted our views along with all parties. On behalf of these eight parties, we did not submit a ‘note of dissent.’ We considered the proposal reasonable and gave positive input in the discussions there. Afterwards, based on the view of the majority, a charter was created. In a democracy, what the majority decides, the rest accept. But we have seen that some are unwilling to accept it.”
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “If you do not show respect for democracy in the July Charter, how will you show respect for it in a national election? We must arrive at this point. Those who fought in July, those who were maimed, who still suffer and gasp for breath — please try to understand their words. My brother Allama Mamunul Haque has said: by struggle we drove out fascism; by struggle we will obtain the people’s demands. I want to say plainly: it will be the people’s victory, not any parties, God willing.”
He added, “You must lend an ear to understand what the people want. Those who fail to understand this should be prepared for their own consequences.”
Promising that they would return home only after securing the people’s freedom, the Jamaat Ameer said, “We speak politely and will continue to speak politely. But we will remain as steadfast as the Himalayas regarding our demands. Because this demand is the people’s demand, not any party’s. This is a demand of the revolution. This demand is not for fascism. Therefore, the people of Bangladesh will not bow to the demands of fascism.”
Calling on activists of the eight parties and the public to be ready, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “Until the people’s demands are met, our movement will continue at an irresistible pace, Insha Allah.”
Speaking as a special guest at the rally chaired by the Chairman of Islami Andolon Bangladesh and Peer shaheb Chormonai Mufti Syed Md. Rezaul Karim, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish’s Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque said that if anyone in present-day Bangladesh does not side with the July Revolution but instead sides with the 1972-style one-party system of BaKSAL, their fate will be the same as that of the Awami League.
He further said that the nation does not want the July National Charter to be just a piece of paper. The nation wants implementation of the July Charter. He said if a referendum is held before the national election, we do not know what problems anyone would have. We know no one will have a problem; rather the nation will get a new Bangladesh. The doors to a new Bangladesh will open. But those who object to a referendum before the national election should explain to the nation exactly what their problem is. To the political parties that are creating obstacles to the referendum he said: “We bought Bangladesh with blood, won independence, and freed it from fascism. Do not come face-to-face with us.”
Ameer of Khelafat Majlish, Principal Maulana Abdul Basit Azad, said today’s rally has turned into a sea of people through popular participation. He said that it is not possible to hold a referendum and the national election on the same day under the legal basis of the July Charter. First a referendum must be held, and by issuing the order to implement the July National Charter on that basis, the national election should be organized.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Porwar said today’s rally sends a message of unity to the Muslim Community of Bangladesh. He said that by maintaining this unity the five-point demands of the mass of the people will be obtained. He said all of Bangladesh’s constitutional experts agree that there is no legal obstacle to holding a referendum before the national election. If a referendum can be held on the day of the national election, why is it not possible in November or before the national election day? Leaving that question, he said that without implementation of the July Charter, how could the 13th national election be possible before the nation — that must be made clear. He appealed to the interim government saying that without implementation of the July Charter it will in no way be constitutionally appropriate to hold a national election in February 2026.
Ameer of Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party, Principal Maulana Sarwar Kamal Azizi, said a referendum must be held before the national election. He said that if the five-point demands are not met, the people will take to the streets. He urged the nation to establish Bangladesh as a haven of peace through implementation of Islamic governance.
Ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, Maulana Habibullah Miazi, said that a referendum is nothing new to Bangladesh. Many parties have emerged and been established through referendums. Yet the parties that were established through referendums are now foot-dragging on holding a referendum. They say the referendum is not in the constitution. If asked, under what constitution did the founders of their parties hold referendums? Rather than trying to fool the people, they should support the people’s demand and help organize a referendum by November.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary and former MP Dr. A. H. M. Hamidur Rahman Azad said that without a referendum before the national election the July Charter cannot be implemented, nor can a free and fair election be possible. He added that those who say there is no referendum in the constitution speak in Hasina’s tone. Similarly, Hasina used her constitution to oppress the nation and establish fascism. If Hasina’s constitution is followed, there will be no opportunity for the 2026 national election; according to the constitution the 13th parliamentary election should take place in 2029. But if the 13th election is to be held earlier, then it must be organized in the light of giving the July National Charter a legal basis.
JAGPA Vice President and party spokesperson Engineer Rashed Pradhan said that today’s rally has become a grand rally. He said those parties that were born through referendums now do not want to accept referendums. Though they agreed to a referendum under pressure from the people, they are creating obstacles to its organization. They claim they want the referendum on the day of the national election and thus call the referendum into question so they do not want to implement the July Charter. He warned that Bangladesh’s ulema have united; the days of the oppressors are over. We will peacefully conclude the grand rally today, but if the order to implement the July Charter is not issued and a referendum is not held by November, the nation will be forced to begin a stern movement, including surrounding the Jamuna River (Jamuna Gherao) program.
President of Bangladesh Development Party Advocate Anwarul Haque Chan said the popular support and turnout at today’s rally prove that the five-point demands raised by the eight parties are the people’s demands. If the government ignores the people’s demands, the situation could be grave. He added that those who oppose holding a referendum for implementation of the July Charter do not understand the language of the people. They are creating a crisis. But they should remember: if they do not understand the language of the people’s eyes and mouths, they will have to flee like the Awami League.
In his remarks as chair, Mufti Syed Md. Rezaul Karim (Pir Saheb Charamonai), Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, said that to build a new Bangladesh through implementation of the July Charter, a referendum must be held to give the July Charter a legal basis. That referendum must definitely be held before the national election. He said that if the national election is not held on the basis of the July Charter, that election will be illegitimate. Currently two classes of people stand at two poles: one class is power-hungry and the other is patriotic. Those who are power-hungry do not want implementation of the July Charter. Because if the July Charter’s legal basis is established they will not be able to set up fascism. He said that without giving the July Charter a legal basis they will not be able to run away. The nation understands those who want the referendum on the day of the national election — their intention is not good. They want to create a crisis and again drive the people to the streets. If the people take to the streets, they will have to perish like the Awami League. Therefore, instead of creating a crisis, he appealed to the interim government to complete the referendum before the national election and organize the national election on the basis of the July Charter.
