Jamaat-led alliance to protest on Saturday demanding implementation of referendum verdict

The 11-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will hold a protest rally next Saturday, demanding reforms to the constitution as per the results of the referendum. 

The top leaders of the alliance will meet on April 7 and the next course of action will be made on the day.

Jamaat Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad made the disclosure to the reporters after the meeting of the 11-party liaison committee in Gulshan on Thursday. 

He said that a protest rally will be held at the north gate of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram at 5 pm next Saturday.

After the meeting, Azad said that a mass contact and leaflet distribution programme will continue to achieve the demands.

 Seminars and meetings will be organised to implement the referendum and the July Charter. Even then, if the government ignores public opinion, the opposition alliance will be forced to come up with a tougher programme. 

Hamidur Rahman said, “The ruling party has taken a stand against the referendum. The promise of reform has been denied, which is tantamount to cheating the nation. The path to authoritarian rule was paved through the 15th Amendment. In that continuity, constitutional autocracy was established during Sheikh Hasina's time. The current government is also walking the same path, which is wrong. Reforms are needed, not constitutional amendments—and to do that, a session of the Constitutional Reform Council must be called in accordance with the referendum.”

The 11 parties also talked about the energy crisis. Hamidur Rahman said that the government is giving misleading information. There is no fuel crisis, despite claiming to have one, fuel is not available at petrol pumps. It has also proposed to start online classes three days a week to save fuel.

NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain, Khilafat Majlis secretary general Ahmed Abdul Quader, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis joint secretary general Ataullah Amin, JAGPA spokesperson Rashed Pradhan, Labour Party chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran and others were present on the occasion.