A national seminar titled “The Legal Basis of the July National Charter: Referendum and Election under the PR System” was held on Thursday (October 16) afternoon. The event took place at the auditorium of the Institution of Diploma Engineers in Dhaka, presided over by former Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Islamic University Professor Md. Korban Ali.
Senior lawyer of the Supreme Court Barrister Muhammad Belayet Hossain presented the keynote paper on the subject of the seminar. National leaders from various political parties, former secretaries, former vice chancellors, and representatives of different professional bodies also spoke at the event. The speakers demanded that the referendum incorporating the July National Charter be completed by November.
The seminar was hosted by Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Maulana Abdul Halim. Among others who addressed the event were Secretary General of Khelafat Majlish Dr. Ahmad Abdul Kader, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon; Maulana Mujibur Rahman Hamidi, Presidium Member of Islami Andolon Bangladesh Professor Ashraf Ali Akand, Maulana Abu Taleb; Secretary General of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon Mufti Fakhrul Islam; former Vice Chancellor Patuakhali Science and Technology University Professor Dr. Abdul Latif Mashum; Professor Dr. Fakhrul Islam of BUET; journalist Masumur Rahman Khalili; President of the National Doctors Forum Professor Dr. Nazrul Islam, Advocate Sheikh Atiar Rahman; Brigadier (Retd.) Mahmudul Hasan; former Principal of Dhaka City College Professor Kazi Minhajul Rahman; Professor Dr. Colonel (Retd.) Jehad Khan; President of the Dhaka Union of Journalists Shahidul Islam, and former Secretary Dr. Md. Zahedul Islam.
In his speech as Chief Guest, former Justice of the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, Farid Ahmed, said: “If the July Charter cannot be given a legal foundation, the interim government will have failed. The blood of thousands shed in July will have been in vain.”
On the issue of elections under the PR system, he remarked, “Under the PR system, both husband and wife will not have the opportunity to become MPs at the same time. In the past, due to nomination trading, members of the same family—even the same household—were given nominations and made MPs. As a result, this system has fostered autocracy through elections. The people of the country want this system changed.”
In his remarks as Special Guest, Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former Member of Parliament Professor Mia Golam Porwar said:
“The party that once sought to ‘fish in troubled waters’ by proposing to take the implementation of the July Charter to Parliament or the court has finally agreed to hold a referendum for its legal foundation. However, they are now procrastinating about the timing of the referendum. They want to hold the referendum on the same day as the national election, which is neither possible nor practical. If both votes are held on the same day, many voters will not be able to exercise their right to vote due to the long time required to cast their ballot. We urge that all recommendations of the Reform Commission be proposed in the referendum and that the referendum be completed by November. The upcoming parliamentary election must, without fail, be held in February on the basis of the July Charter.”
Speaking on the issue of the PR system, he said, “The most popular and acceptable system is the PR (Proportional Representation) system. Those who claim they don’t understand PR simply haven’t studied politics.
Mia Golam Parwar said, “A few advisers are working to hand over the state to one particular party. They are transferring DCs (Deputy Commissioners) and SPs (Superintendents of Police) according to that party’s preference and appointing their loyal people to those positions. In such a situation, reform has no meaning, and it’s impossible to believe that a fair election can take place.”
Addressing the Chief Adviser, “Your promises were reform, justice, and election. Without reform and justice, there is growing public doubt about the election. Before signing the July Charter, all unresolved issues must be settled, and the government must ensure the implementation of the July Charter.”
Secretary General of Islami Andolon Bangladesh Maulana Yunus Ahmad said, “Failure to establish the legal basis and implementation of the July Charter would amount to betrayal of the martyrs’ blood. To secure the interest of the nation and the country, we urge the government to accept Jamaat-e-Islami’s five-point demand, including the introduction of the PR system.” He added, “For the sake of the people and the country, Islami Andolon will, as in the past, continue to play a selfless role on the streets to realize legitimate demands.”
Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former Member of Parliament Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad said, “Unable to hide its failure to join the ranks of students and people during the July Revolution and provide leadership, a particular party cannot accept the legal basis or implementation of the July Charter in any way. That’s why they keep changing their statements.”
He added, “The interim government had promised to hold elections based on reform and justice for genocide. But none of these promises have been fulfilled. The government is now preparing to hold elections under the constitution crafted by Hasina. If reform is not given a legal foundation, the July Charter will remain nothing but a piece of paper. The Charter contains nothing about the electoral system or process. As a result, the old system will once again lead to the rise of fascism, and the fate of the nation will not change.
Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party Abdul Majed, said, “The constitution framed in 1972 has been repeatedly altered and reshaped by the autocrat Hasina according to her own will. That very constitution is still in force. The country cannot be governed under the constitution made by Hasina and her father, because it has failed to establish the rights of the people. Whoever runs the country under this constitution will ultimately establish fascism. To permanently close the path to autocracy, there is no alternative to providing a legal basis to the July Charter and holding elections under the PR system.”
Vice President and Spokesperson of the National Democratic Party (JAGPA) Engineer Rashed Pradhan said, “The government is preparing to sign the July Charter without clearly defining the process for its implementation. Without a clear roadmap for implementation, the July Charter will remain nothing but a worthless piece of paper.”
He therefore urged that the referendum be completed by November instead of on the day of the national election, adding, “The proposal for the PR system must be incorporated into the July Charter. If the people do not want PR, we will never raise the demand for it. But if the people want PR, then elections must be held under the PR system — even if some political parties oppose it.”
