If the five demands of the people are not accepted, and if any advisers are found to be working to implement the political agenda of a particular party, their names will be revealed publicly. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former lawmaker Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said this while speaking as the chief guest at the human-chain program held on Tuesday (14 October), which stretched some 20 kilometers from Jatrabari to Gabtali (Amin Bazar) in the capital demanding a referendum and inclusion of the PR system in the July charter among the five-point demands.

“These five demands — ‘the legal basis of the July charter’, ‘elections to both houses of Parliament under the PR (proportional representation) system)’, ‘ensuring a level playing field for everyone so that elections are free, fair and acceptable’, ‘making visible the trials of the fascist government’s atrocities, mass killings and corruption’, and ‘banning the activities of the 14-party alliance including the collaborators of autocracy (the Jatiya Party)’ — are the public demands. If these five demands are implemented, the basic rights of the people will be established.”

Dr. Taher further added that if thousands stand on the road and hold a human chain and the government still does not listen, if the government does not understand the language of the people’s eyes and mouths, then the demands will be pursued in whatever language the government does understand. He said Jamaat-e-Islami believes in peaceful democratic movements. But if the government wants, Jamaat-e-Islami will not hesitate to take to the streets for the interest of the people.

He also said Jamaat-e-Islami wants qualitative change in politics. Jamaat-e-Islami does not practice personality- or family-based politics. Jamaat-e-Islami works for the welfare of the masses. The people want that party to fall even before it returns to power. Even after 5 August that party, despite not being in power, behaved as if it were ruling — initiating corruption, extortion, terrorism, looting and land-grabbing across the country. People are fed up with their misdeeds. That party talks about reform, but when seated on a consensus commission they make all kinds of delays. For party interest, they want a mock election like the elections of Hasina regime. It must be remembered that elections like those of 2014 and 2018 cannot happen in this country again. The people are now alert and vigilant.

Dr. Taher said a referendum could serve as a test match for the national election. He said those who do not want—or cannot accept—the July Charter’s legal basis, often argues that if a referendum is held before the national election and any problems arise, the public will lose faith in voting, which would affect the national election. Questioning who would create problems in a referendum, Dr. Taher said precisely for that reason a referendum must be held before the national election. Those who cause trouble will be identified before the people and the government. To identify them, the referendum must be accepted as the test match for the national election. He appealed to the government to hold the referendum by November and to organize the national election in February on the basis of the July Charter.

He further said that those who want the referendum and the national election to be held on the same day have bad intentions. If the July Charter is passed in a referendum, many changes will come to the election system. Under the new system they will not be able to steal votes or seize control of polling centers. If the July Charter acquires legal standing, they will not be able to establish fascism or impose one-man rule. That is why they are conspiring in various ways to block the July Charter’s legal basis.

Speaking about the civil and police administrations, Dr. Taher said the administration is being staffed with loyalists of one party to stage a sham election. He said the interim government had assured them that no party-loyal person would be appointed as Public Administration Secretary. But the reality is the opposite: the person appointed as Public Administration Secretary is corrupt and directly loyal to a particular party.

At a program held in front of the Motsho Bhaban in the capital, presided over by Central Executive Council member of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Ameer of Dhaka City South Nurul Islam Bulbul, and hosted by Central Working Committee member and Secretary of Dhaka City North Dr. Rezaul Karim. The event was also addressed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary Generals Maulana ATM Masum, Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, Maulana Abdul Halim, Central Working Committee member and Nayeb-e Ameer of Dhaka City South Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin, Central Majlis-e-Shura member and Assistant Secretary of Dhaka City North Yasin Arafat, and Central Majlis-e-Shura member and Assistant Secretary of Dhaka City South Md. Shamsur Rahman.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Central Executive Council Member Principal Abdur Rob, Presidium member of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ashraf Ali Akand, leaders of various like-minded political parties, and responsible leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami at both central and Dhaka City North and South levels were also present on the occasion.

In his speech, Nurul Islam Bulbul said: “If the government ignores the people’s demands and tries to hold the referendum and national election on the same day, it will be clear that the government is implementing the agenda of a particular party. If the government delays the referendum from November and the national election from February, the people may be compelled to surround the residence of the Chief Adviser of the interim government. Therefore, he urged the government to peacefully accept the five-point demands.”