Jamaat on BNP’s Referendum Move: ‘Was the Government Formed on a Constitutional Basis?’

Staff Correspondent

Dhaka, Monday, November 10, 2025: Regarding BNP’s statement that ‘there is no provision for referendum in the constitution’, Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General H. M. Hamidur Rahman Azad said that BNP is creating unnecessary complications with such statements. He raised the question, “Is this government formed on the basis of the constitution?”

He made these remarks at a joint press conference after a liaison meeting of eight Islamic parties held at the central office of Islami Andolan Bangladesh in Paltan, the capital, on Monday. The meeting was held ahead of a rally called as part of the eight-party simultaneous movement in Paltan tomorrow.

The 8 parties are Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khilafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Bangladesh Nejame Islami Party, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, JAGPA and Bangladesh Development Party (BDP).

In response to questions from journalists at the press conference, Azad said, “If it is said that the provision of referendum is not in the constitution, then it is not in the existing constitution. There was a provision for referendum before the 15th Amendment. But the constitution was amended during the period of fascism. Now a case is going on regarding this, the verdict will really show where the constitution has gone.”

He further said, “If any political party says such things, then they are actually supporting fascism. Because elections are supposed to be held every 5 years, does 2026 mark the completion of 5 years? So is this in the constitution?”

Addressing the BNP, the Jamaat leader said, “Those who are raising the issue of the constitution should first say – has this government been formed on the basis of the constitution? If anyone creates a debate by citing the first article of the constitution, then they will be the ones who will become an obstacle in the path of democracy. Ultimately, this will raise the question of whether the BNP wants elections in February or not.”

He further added, “By talking about the constitution, Obaidul Quader and Sheikh Hasina have put the nation in danger. They have imposed misrule. The constitution is not important, the people’s intentions are important – this is the principle from which the country’s future must be reformed.”

The Islamic parties announced five demands at the meeting:
1. Issue an order to implement the National Charter in July and hold a referendum by November.
2. Introduce proportional representation (PR) in the upper and lower houses of the National Assembly in the next parliamentary elections.
3. Ensure a level playing field for free, fair and acceptable elections.
4. Make the persecution, genocide and corruption of the ‘fascist government’ visible.
5. Ban the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14 parties, which are allies of the dictatorship.

The press conference was attended by Islami Andolan Bangladesh Secretary General Yunus Ahmed, Senior Presidium Member Principal Syed Mosaddek Billah Al Madani, Presidium Member Professor Ashraf Ali Akon, Joint Secretary General of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Ataullah Amin and Secretary General of Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan Yusuf Sadiq Haqqani.