Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General, and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar, said that the present time is the appropriate time to give legal basis to the July Charter and the July Declaration. Drawing the attention of the Chief Advisor, he said: “You should call everyone. Either through a constitutional order or through a referendum, there is still time to give legal basis to the July Charter and to hold the election subsequently.

He further said: “Some are saying this cannot be done, that cannot be done. We see that there are many different opinions on major constitutional issues. We have said, and even the Consensus Commission has said, that no one can serve as Prime Minister for more than two terms. If this reform is not made now, if the balance of power between the President and Prime Minister is not fixed now, and if it is not done before the election—if elections are held under the existing state structure, then this election will give birth to another fascism. An election under the current framework will give birth to another Hasina. The people of Bengal will not allow the birth of fascism again.”

He said these things as the chief guest while addressing a demonstration followed by a massive rally organized by Dhaka North and South City Jamaat on the afternoon of 18 September (Thursday) at the South gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

Professor Mia Golam Porwar further said to the government: “You cannot maintain a level playing field. Then how will a fair election be possible? That is why our demand is—give legal basis to the July Charter. Issue a constitutional order. Hold a referendum. You also had promised that ‘before the election you would ensure visible justice.’ Our demand is also that it must be made visible before the election.”

Addressing the government, he also said: “On the basis of Article 7, the election must be held by giving legal basis to the July Charter. If, after two or three months of discussions, a party says it will happen later, then why did you make us go through so much struggle? That is why I say our movement is part of politics. Our politics is to present the aspirations of the people. We are hopeful for settlement at the discussion table. We are not in despair.”

He said: “Our demand is that PR (Proportional Representation) must be accepted. Surveys show that 70 percent of people support PR. Therefore, hold a referendum for the implementation of PR. Verify whether the verdict comes in favor of PR or against it. If the people accept PR, then you must accept it as well. And if the people’s verdict goes against PR, then we in Jamaat-e-Islami will also accept that. But they are afraid of the referendum. If through PR, a quality parliament free of muscle power and black money is formed based on the participation of all parties, and if a government is formed this way, then no party will have the chance to turn fascist. That is why they want to block PR.”

He called upon the people to remain on the streets until the demands are met.

The program was presided over by Dhaka City South Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul and jointly hosted by Secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud and Dhaka North City Secretary Dr. Rezaul Karim. Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan and Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad also addressed the gathering. Among others, Assistant Secretary General Advocate Moazzem Hossain Helal, central executive committee member Mobarak Hossain, and central working committee member Advocate Jasim Uddin Sarkar, Dhaka City South Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Helal Uddin, Assistant Secretary Delwar Hossain, Advocate Kamal Hossain, Dr. Abdul Mannan, Dhaka City North Assistant Secretary Mahfuzur Rahman, Dr. Fakhruddin Manik, Nazim Uddin Mollah, Yasin Arafat and many others attended the program.

The protest procession started from the south gate of Baitul Mukarram, passing through GPO intersection, Paltan intersection, and in front of the National Press Club, before ending at Matsya Bhaban intersection. Thousands of people, including leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, participated in the protest procession.