Jamaat seeks referendum in November, no further RPO amendment at meeting with EC

Demanding another RPO change is a violation of the level playing field, says Jamaat’s Golam Parwar

Jamaat-e-Islami has called on the Election Commission not to amend the Representation of the People Order (RPO) provision that requires candidates to contest under their own party symbol even when contesting as part of an alliance.

The party also demanded that a national referendum be held next month to implement the July National Charter.

After a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Tuesday, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said the party had raised these demands.

The Advisory Council on Thursday gave final approval to the RPO amendment ordinance stipulating that candidates in electoral alliances must contest under their own party symbol.

However, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) opposed the provision, demanding that the existing rule -- allowing coalition members to use any available electoral symbol from the alliance they wish to -- be retained.

The party also called for the parliamentary election and referendum to be held simultaneously.

Parwar said, “Even before the polls, the BNP is acting in ways that violate the level playing field. The RPO must not be amended again. The referendum must be held in November.”

JAMAAT’S 18-POINT DEMAND

Parwar said Jamaat-e-Islami presented an 18-point charter of demands during its meeting with the Election Commission to ensure that the 13th national parliamentary election is free and fair.

He said, “We are satisfied with the Election Commission’s sincerity. We have submitted our 18 demands in writing and made it clear that a fair election will not be possible without implementing them.”

According to Parwar, one of the key demands is that a national referendum must be held before the parliamentary election and completed by November. “People must be informed about the proposed structural reforms in the National Charter before voting.”

He added, “If the national election and referendum are held on the same day, it may create technical and security complications. Therefore, we have proposed holding the referendum separately.”