United News of Bangladesh

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Md Taher on Wednesday slammed the government’s decision to hold a referendum alongside the national election, calling for its immediate withdrawal. Dr Taher made the remarks after a meeting at Jamaat’s Moghbazar office with leaders of the 'eight-party alliance'. While acknowledging that the chief adviser’s speech contains some points worth consideration, he said the overall package does not promise national relief or a better future. President issues order to implement July Charter; gazette published He stressed that reforms must precede elections and noted that the alliance has consistently advocated for pre-determined referendum outcomes to guide subsequent polls. Criticising the simultaneous scheduling, Dr Taher said it could create practical difficulties in implementing approved referendum measures, though he described the cost of the referendum as negligible compared with its intended benefit. Appreciating the adviser for issuing the July Charter, he added, “The referendum’s timing with the national election has created confusion. We urge its withdrawal.” BNP thanks Prof Yunus for reaffirming Feb election, same-day referendum Dr Taher also confirmed that the previously announced action plan of the 'eight-party alliance' would continue as scheduled. The 'alliance' is set to provide detailed explanations at a press briefing on Nov 14 at 10:30 a.m. at Al-Falah Auditorium, where all party leaders will be present.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central executive council is holding an emergency meeting to work out its next course of action following the chief adviser’s announcement that the national election and the referendum will be held on the same day. The meeting began on Thursday evening at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, said Mujibul Alam, senior assistant of Jamaat’s central publicity department. Members of the executive council and the party’s legal experts are attending the meeting. Earlier in the day, Jamaat Secretary General Prof Mia Golam Parwar announced the meeting during a press conference held shortly after the chief adviser’s televised address. CA’s speech fails to meet public expectations on referendum: Parwar Parwar said holding the referendum and the national election simultaneously could create complications for voters. “If both take place on the same day, a voter will have to cast a ballot in the referendum and another in the national election. This will create confusion,” he said. He said the party’s next course of action would be finalised after detailed discussions at the meeting and subsequently communicated to the nation through the media.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar on Thursday said the nation’s expectations regarding the proposed referendum were not fulfilled in the Chief Adviser’s recent address. Speaking at a briefing at the party’s Moghbazar central office, Parwar said the Chief Adviser’s remarks lacked clarity on how the referendum would be conducted alongside the national election. “If the national election and the referendum are held on the same day and balloting is suspended in any area due to unrest, what will happen to the ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ votes in the referendum?” he questioned. Referendum, national election together in Feb: Prof Yunus He said the Chief Adviser’s speech did not clearly explain the mechanism of managing both national and referendum ballots on the same day. Earlier in the day in an address to the nation, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said the national election and the referendum will be held simultaneously in the first half of February next year.  

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar on Wednesday said the nation has resisted ‘Awami fascists’ who have been trying to create violence and anarchy across the country in recent days. “The looters, mass killers, and murderers can no longer return to this country. The nation has resisted them; even today, they could not stand on this soil,” Parwar said at a press conference at the party’s central office around 12:30pm. The event was organised to protest arson attacks, vandalism, and anarchy allegedly carried out by the Awami League and its allies. The press conference was attended by Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim, Central Executive Council member Saiful Alam Khan Milon, Dhaka South Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, Dhaka North Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdur Rahman Musa, Dhaka South Nayeb-e-Ameer Advocate Dr Helal Uddin, and Dhaka North Secretary Dr Rezaul Karim. Parwar alleged that Sheikh Hasina is “threatening Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser and others from India by using Indian media, calling it “astonishing behaviour.” He said those who have committed injustice and crimes will not be accepted again by the nation.  

Eight like-minded parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, on Wednesday announced to stage demonstrations across the country on Thursday to resist what they described as the ‘subversive and destructive activities of fascist forces’. They will also stage protest processions at district and metropolitan levels across the country on November 14 to press home their five-point demand, including issuing an order to hold a referendum before the national election over the July National Charter. The announcement came at a press conference on Wednesday where Prof Mujibur Rahman, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former MP, announced the programmes on behalf of the eight parties. Earlier, a joint meeting of the eight parties, led by Jamaat-e-Islami, was held at 11 am at the central office of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The seven other parties are Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, National Democratic Party (JAGPA) and Bangladesh Development Party. They called upon all patriotic and anti-fascist groups to join them on the streets. They also announced that a meeting of the top leaders of the eight parties will be held at 11:00 am on November 16 which will followed by a press conference at 12:30 pm at the Al-Falah Auditorium. The eight like-minded parties threatened to go for an indefinite sit-in programme in front of Chief Adviser’s official residence, Jamuna, if their demands are not met. Tension rises in Dhaka ahead of planned ‘lockdown’ amid fears of violence They urged the people, law enforcement agencies, transport owners and traffic police to extend their full cooperation in making their announced programmes a success. The eight parties' other demands are introducing a proportional representation (PR) system in the upper or both houses, ensuring a level playing field for all parties during the election, ensuring visible justice for all acts of repression, killings, and corruption committed by the previous  government and banning the activities of  Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance.  

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday said that recognising the ‘July Revolution’ is a prerequisite for participating in the 2026 national election. “Those who do not recognise the July Revolution, there will be no elections in 2026 for them. To give recognition to the July Revolution, the July Charter must have a legal basis. Without this legal basis, elections cannot take place,” he said. The Jamaat chief was speaking at a rally organised by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami along with seven other political parties in the city’s Paltan area to press home their five-point demand. The rally, which began shortly after 2 pm, caused major traffic disruptions in Paltan and surrounding roads, triggering traffic chaos. “The demand of the people of this country is clear, a referendum must be held before the national election. All parties agree on the referendum, so why this confusion over the date?” he added. Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the next national election will be held based on the July Charter. “When the elections are held, there will be no doubts or suspicions. We want the national elections to take place before Ramadan next year. No one should try to create smoke and mirrors around this.” Jamaat’s assistant secretary general, Hamidur Rahman Azad, said that if all constitutional provisions are followed, elections are due in 2029, not in 2024 or 2026. He criticised claims that the constitution does not provide for a referendum, noting that the provision was annulled through constitutional amendments during the Awami League’s rule. Jamaat Secretary General Golam Parwar said that almost nine months of discussions with the National Consensus Commission on constitutional, political, and administrative reforms have led to near consensus, but conspiracies have been hatched since then. He warned the government about potential disruptive plans on November 13. Speakers at the rally included Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim (Ameer, Islami Andolan Bangladesh), Maulana Mamunul Haque (Ameer, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis), Maulana Sarwar Kamal Azizi (Ameer, Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party), Rashed Pradhan (Senior Vice President, National Democratic Party – JAGPA), Maulana Abdul Basit Azad (Ameer, Khelafat Majlis), Maulana Habibullah Miazi (Ameer, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan), and Advocate Anwarul Haque Chan (President, Bangladesh Development Party). The eight parties’ five demands are: issuing an order to implement the July Charter; announcing the referendum date before the election; introducing proportional representation in both houses in the next national polls; ensuring a level playing field for a free, fair, and acceptable election; and initiating visible accountability measures for past incidents of repression, killings, and corruption. The parties also demanded a ban on the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance.

Supporters of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and seven allied political parties have gathered at Paltan in the capital to press their previously announced five-point demand. The rally is scheduled to begin at 2 pm. The decision to hold the rally was announced on November 3 at a press conference by Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque. Leaders present at the press briefing included Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim (Charmonai Pir), Maulana Yunus Ahmad, Prof Ashraf Ali Akon, Jamaat leaders Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, Nizami Islam Party’s Mufti Harun Izhar, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Maulana Jalal Uddin, Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Dr Ahmad Abdul Kader, and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) spokesperson Rashed Pradhan. Supporters of Jamaat, allies gather at Paltan to push for 5-point demand The five-point demand focuses on the implementation of the July Charter and related electoral reforms. The five demands are issuing an order to hold a referendum before the national election over the July National Charter, introducing a proportional representation (PR) system in the upper or both houses, ensuring a level playing field for all parties during the election, ensuring visible justice for all acts of repression, killings, and corruption committed by the previous  government and banning the activities of  Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance. On November 6, Jamaat-e-Islami and seven allied parties submitted a five-point memorandum to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, seeking the implementation of the July Charter and calling for a national referendum ahead of the next general election scheduled for February. Read more: Police intercept Jamaat, Islami Andolon procession near Matsya Bhaban

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar on Sunday condemned the use of police force, sound grenades and water cannons on government primary school teachers demonstrating in Dhaka to press home their three-point demand, including salary upgrade to the 10th grade. In a statement, Mia Golam Parwar said the teachers’ demands should be considered with sympathy and resolved through discussion. “It is the responsibility of the government to address their demands in a reasonable manner. The injuries caused to over a hundred teachers during the protest are deeply regrettable and painful.” He said teachers play a vital role as the ‘architects of the nation’ and any movement involving them should be handled with more patience and respect. Jamaat ready with candidates for 300 constituencies: Mia Parwar Parwar said the teachers have now announced an indefinite work abstention, which has created concern among students, parents and the wider public. With annual exams approaching, prolonged disruption of classes could severely affect children’s education, he added. He urged the government to step back from a hardline stance and engage in dialogue to resolve the issue. “The government should take immediate steps to end the teachers’ movement and

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad on Saturday said their party is not involved in any activities that threaten the election process. He made the remark while speaking at a seminar on how political parties can use technology to better reflect citizens' aspirations in their election manifestos, at a city hotel. “We are proceeding positively. We are not, and never have been, involved in any activities that create unrest or threaten the election process. BNP is not willing to sit for talks with Jamaat, despite the latter’s call for dialogue. We don’t want politics to return to a fascist culture. However, if BNP calls for talks, we are ready to participate,” Azad said. The Jamaat leader said, “Jamaat is not a pressure group, it represents people’s opinions and aspirations on the streets. We can accept differences in opinion, but not division. We expect the national election to be held in February, and we are moving forward with that hope.” Azad described the proposed national referendum as an ‘acid test’ for the Election Commission, cautioning that holding the referendum and the national election on the same day could reduce voter turnout. “In national elections, voters’ attention remains focused on parties and candidates. If both the election and referendum are held together, it could delay voting and prevent many from casting their ballots,” he said. Referring to the implementation process of the July Charter, Azad said though the charter was signed with some notes of dissent, differences emerged only after the implementation process was presented. Jamaat, allies submit memo to CA, warn of ‘Different Dhaka’ on Nov 11 He also criticised the Election Commission for `creating confusion’ over the timing of the referendum, saying, “Holding the referendum on election day could cause complications. The main focus of the national election should remain on victory, and any suspension of polling could create uncertainty regarding the charter.” After the National Consensus Commission recommended the implementation of the July Charter, the BNP and Jamaat—once allies—took opposing stances over the timing of the referendum. The interim government has urged the political parties to hold discussions and reach an understanding.  

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, along with seven other political parties, on Thursday submitted a five-point memorandum to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, urging the implementation of the July Charter and calling for a national referendum ahead of the next general election scheduled for February. A joint delegation visited the Chief Adviser’s residence at noon to submit the memorandum. Earlier, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar briefed journalists on the parties’ demands. The five-point memorandum called for: issuing an order to implement the July Charter; announcing the referendum date before the election; introducing proportional representation in both houses in the next national polls; ensuring a level playing field for a free, fair and acceptable election; and initiating visible accountability measures for past incidents of repression, killings and corruption. Police intercept Jamaat, Islami Andolon procession near Matsya Bhaban The parties also demanded a ban on the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance. Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan received the memorandum on behalf of the Chief Adviser. Earlier in the day, at around 11:00am, leaders and activists of the eight parties held separate rallies at Paltan intersection before marching towards the Chief Adviser’s residence. They were stopped by police near Matsya Bhaban. Later, nine representatives of the alliance proceeded to the state guest house Jamuna to submit the memorandum. The delegation included Jamaat leaders Mia Golam Parwar and Dr Hamidur Rahman Azad; Islami Andolan Bangladesh Joint Secretary General Fazlul Bari Masud; Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Organising Secretary Enamul Haque Musa and Nayeb-e-Ameer Ahmad Ali Qasemi; Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan Secretary General Yusuf Sadiq Haqqani; Nezam-e-Islam Party Secretary General Musa bin Izhar; JaGPA Vice President and Spokesperson Rashed Pradhan; and Bangladesh Development Party President AKM Anwarul Islam. Talking to the media after submitting the memorandum, Parwar said the eight parties will hold a mass rally in Dhaka on 11 November, urging the government to accept their demands before that date. Nation’s fate will be decided through the upcoming election: Jamaat Ameer “If the demands are not accepted before November 11, the situation in Dhaka will be different that day,” he warned. Addressing the earlier rally at Paltan, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Sayed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said, “If things don’t move with a straight approach, they will be made to move in another way.” He reiterated the call for holding the referendum before the election, warning that delaying the process could push the interim government into crisis.