Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former Member of Parliament Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said, “In line with the aspirations of the July Movement, the nation has ousted the old in the hope of building a new Bangladesh. To build a new Bangladesh, new issues will naturally arise. Those who feel uncomfortable with new issues actually do not want a new Bangladesh. They want to re-establish Awami black days in a new form. Wherever reforms are needed in the state structure, one party has given a note of dissent. Mere verbal recognition does not bring about reform. For reforms to be completed, firstly there must be agreement on the proposed matters, then the enactment of laws in light of that agreement, and finally implementation of those laws. For this reason, Jamaat-e-Islami has repeatedly demanded the legal basis and implementation of the July Charter. Jamaat’s demand is the demand of the people. As a result, almost all political parties, big and small, have also been demanding the legal basis and implementation of the July Charter.”

He said this while addressing as the chief guest at a discussion meeting on “The July Declaration, providing legal basis and Implementation of the July Charter, and demanding the next National Parliamentary Election under the PR System”, organized by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka City South on Thursday (28 August) afternoon at Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club.

At that time, he said: “Reform, justice, and election—these were the promises of the Chief Adviser. But instead of visible reform and justice, the Chief Adviser has announced an election roadmap. An election can indeed be held based on the roadmap he has given. Jamaat-e-Islami has no objection to that. However, before the election, the legal basis of the July Charter must be established and implemented. In light of that, the trial of mass killings must be made visible. Only then can elections be held under the PR system to form a people’s parliament and government. Seventy-one percent of the country’s people want voting under the PR system. Except for one party, all other political parties also want PR-based elections. The interim government cannot and must not ignore 71 percent of the people and almost all political parties to favor just one party by bypassing the PR system.”

“If the interim government cannot, through political consensus, provide the PR system and the legal basis of the July Charter, then a referendum must be held for the PR system and the legal basis of the July Charter. Those who claim they do not understand PR have no knowledge of statecraft. In reality, they do understand PR but do not want to accept it. Because under the PR system, they cannot rig elections or capture polling centers with muscle power. That is why they oppose PR system. Out of fear and despair, they cannot accept PR. In the 54-year history of independence, most of the elections were not fair. But under the PR system, no one will be able to rig elections. A free, fair, impartial, and credible election is only possible through the PR system. Therefore, to build the new Bangladesh that the nation aspires to, the next national parliamentary election must be held under the PR system with the legal basis of the July Charter. If not, the people will take to the streets to realize their demand. The people of Bangladesh know how to achieve their rights.

He warned government officials: “Some bureaucrats have already assumed that in the upcoming election a particular party will likely come to power. That is why some officials are already seen leaning here and there even before the election. I call on the bureaucrats to remain neutral. The people are not asleep. The people are watching all political parties closely. No one can come to power by killing people with stones, by extortion, or by terrorism. The more stones they throw, the fewer votes they will get. That is why instead of demanding reform and justice, they are chanting only ‘election, election.’ The election will surely come, but only after ensuring reform and justice for genocide through the legal basis of the July Charter.”

The meeting was presided over by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Central Executive Council member and Ameer of Dhaka City South Nurul Islam Bulbul.
Special guest of the program was the Assistant Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Maulana Abdul Halim. He said: “The July Declaration did not highlight the genocide carried out by Awami League during Hefazat-e-Islam’s rally at Shapla Chattar. After Awami League’s dummy election on January 7, 2024, six months passed but a party could not even organize a single procession demanding elections. Yet after the student-people’s revolution, they have been shouting for elections day and night. But they have not demanded justice for genocide, reform of the state, or the legal basis of the July Charter to honor the contribution of the July warriors.

Instead, they are creating obstacles. If Ziaur Rahman could hold a referendum to legitimize his power, then why should there be any objection to holding a referendum to verify the people’s demand for the legal basis of the July Charter and elections under the PR system? The nation has not forgotten the one-sided election of 15 February. The nation knows whose hands destroyed democracy, when, and how. After Jamaat raised the issue of the caretaker government system, those who opposed it, saying that no one is neutral except madmen and children, later themselves waged many movements demanding restoration of the caretaker system. They are still fighting legal battles for it. Today, those who claim not to understand PR will soon come to consensus in support of PR. Because they too know that every formula proposed by Jamaat-e-Islami is in the interest of the country and the nation.”

The meeting, hosted by Jamaat’s Central Majlis-e-Shura member and Assistant Secretary of Dhaka City South Delwar Hossain. Among others, the meeting was addressed by others including Central Executive Council member and Jamaat nominated candidate for Dhaka-13 constituency, Mobarak Hossain; Central Working Committee member and Jamaat nominated candidate for Dhaka-10 constituency, Advocate Jasim Uddin Sarkar; Central Working Committee member, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Dhaka City South, and Jamaat nominated candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency, Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin; Assistant Secretary of Dhaka City South and Jamaat nominated candidate for Dhaka-5 constituency, Mohammad Kamal Hossain; Central Vice President of Bangladesh Labour Welfare Federation and Jamaat nominated candidate for Dhaka-9 constituency, Kabir Ahmed; Dhaka City South Working Committee member and Jamaat nominated candidate for Dhaka-4 constituency, Syed Zaynul Abedin, among others.

In his speech, Nurul Islam Bulbul said: “The responsibility that the interim government wants to pass on to the next elected government regarding providing constitutional legitimacy to the July Charter will be a suicidal decision. It will be tantamount to betrayal of the July warriors. If the elected government is to give the legal basis of the July Charter, then there was no need to form an interim government in the first place.

Why does the so-called big party fear a referendum? Because they do not speak for the people nor work for them. Their words and actions are only for their own party interests. No fascist force will be allowed to play with the rights of the people. Seventy-one percent of the country’s people want PR. Yet one party keeps claiming that people do not understand PR. In reality, that party has no connection or relationship with the people. Referring to the Election Commission’s announcement of holding elections according to the constitution, Nurul Islam Bulbul said: ‘On what constitutional authority have you become the Chief Election Commissioner? Please clarify this before the nation.’ Warning him, he said: ‘Stop representing just one party. Otherwise, you will face the same fate as the Rakib-Huda Commission.’”