The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance, the main opposition bloc, has vowed to intensify its anti-government movement in the coming days, ruling out any compromise over the implementation of the July Charter and the referendum verdict.
The alliance accuses the BNP-led government of circumventing the people’s mandate on constitutional reform. Meanwhile, the National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced its own street programmes, signalling a possible escalation of political confrontation in the post-interim period.
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar told this correspondent on Tuesday that the alliance would not compromise on the referendum issue. He said it wanted the constitutional provision for referendums restored and would make no concessions on implementing the people’s verdict.
“We want constitutional reform under a constitutional reform council, not under any special committee,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference at the Jashore Press Club auditorium on Sunday afternoon, Porwar announced that the alliance would organise a long march across Khulna division on October 31.
The programme is intended to protest what the alliance describes as a unilateral move to amend the Constitution by bypassing the process endorsed in the referendum. It is also demanding improvements in law and order and the fulfilment of other political commitments.
“In the referendum, 70 per cent of the country’s voters backed implementing reforms through a constitution reform council,” Porwar said. “But the government is ignoring the people’s verdict, excluding opposition parties and moving to amend the constitution through its own process.”
Jamaat is also continuing its campaign for the introduction of proportional representation (PR) in general elections. The party has decided to maintain its rallies and public outreach programmes, including division-based long marches and public meetings across the country.
‘Face-to-face conflict’ over constitutional reform
Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Amir Allama Mamunul Haque said on Tuesday that opposition parties and the government had taken opposing positions on constitutional reform.
“We are in a face-to-face conflict. The point of conflict is constitutional reform,” he said.
He accused the government of moving away from its commitment to constitutional reform and pursuing amendments instead.
“They do not want to repair the state. They do not believe in the spirit of the July revolution,” he said.
Meanwhile, the NCP announced on Sunday a week-long protest and public outreach campaign in Dhaka over rising fuel and commodity prices, law and order concerns, irregularities in recruitment and corruption.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s Political Council, its highest policymaking body, chaired by NCP Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam. Member Secretary Akhter Hossen conducted the meeting.
The campaign will begin on October 23, with Nahid inaugurating the programme. It will include leaflet distribution and public outreach in different parts of the capital, with senior party leaders participating throughout the week.
The NCP said the campaign would focus on deteriorating law and order, public safety, higher fuel prices, the rising cost of essential commodities, recruitment-related corruption and alleged irregularities in the allocation of government jobs.
The party’s Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units will hold a joint protest rally at Shahbagh on October 30.
The Political Council also finalised the restructuring of the party’s central committee and the allocation of responsibilities among its leaders. The NCP said it would announce candidates for local government elections in another 100 upazilas and municipalities next week, while accelerating preparations for the upcoming Union Parishad elections.
Hasnat alleges broken promises
NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah on Tuesday accused the BNP-led government of failing to uphold the commitments of the July uprising, alleging that it was publicly advocating justice while allowing the Awami League to regain political ground.
“BNP speaks of July, but the Awami League remains in its heart,” he said at a discussion at the NCP’s central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka.
The event, titled “Justice for the July Massacre: The Gap Between Political Commitments and Reality”, was organised by the party’s Committee for Monitoring Justice for the July Massacre and Enforced Disappearances.
Speakers alleged that the government was delaying investigations, failing to bring those responsible for the killings to justice and allowing cases to be used for extortion and political bargaining.
Hasnat, the NCP’s chief organiser for the southern region, said the uprising had changed the country’s political leadership without bringing about fundamental institutional reforms.
“We wanted the structure of the state to change. We wanted everyone to receive equal and fair treatment. But what we have seen is merely a change of chairs,” he said.