July Charter: Jamaat alliance calls ‘mass’ march in Dhaka on Saturday

The alliance had previously called rallies and outreach programmes to push for the demand

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led “11-Party Alliance” has called for “mass marches” on three consecutive Saturdays to push for various demands, including the implementation of the July National Charter according to the referendum.

The “mass march” will be held in Dhaka on Saturday, then in the divisional cities on Apr 25, and, finally, in all districts on May 2.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar announced the programme at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

At a press conference held at Al Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar, he said that these programmes will be held to demand the implementation of the July Charter, a resolution of the energy and fertiliser crisis, protest against the measles situation and deterioration of law and order, an end to encroachment, extortion, and protection of bank depositors, and an end to overall suffering.

Porwar said, “From Apr 18 to May 2, seminars and symposiums will be organised in every divisional city to create awareness about the implementation of the referendum verdict and misinterpretation of the Constitution.”

The briefing was attended by AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the 11-Party Alliance, and Jalaluddin Ahmed, secretary general of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis.

Before the press conference, the top leaders of the alliance held a meeting at the Al Falah Auditorium.

The meeting, chaired by Jamaat chief and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman, included LDP President Oli Ahmed and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque.

Porwar told the press conference that a new programme was decided at the meeting.

He said that at least 12 rallies will be held at the divisional level and in major cities from May 2. The top leaders will discuss and decide the date of the rallies.

He said top leaders will participate in these programmes under the banner of the 11-Party Alliance.

The Jamaat secretary general said after the rallies in the divisional cities, the alliance will hold a “national convention” in the capital. After that, the top leaders will announce their next programme.

Jamaat, the opposition in parliament, has taken to the streets to demand the implementation of the referendum verdict on the July Charter. They have held two rounds of protest marches, rallies, and mass outreach programmes.

The “July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order” was issued during the interim government, determining how the 48 constitutional reform proposals of the July National Charter would be implemented. A referendum was held on Feb 12 alongside the parliamentary elections to obtain the people's consent on the implementation of those reform proposals.

According to the implementation order, since the “Yes” vote won the referendum, the current members of parliament are also supposed to play a role as members of the Constitutional Reform Council.

Like the parliament, the first session of the council was supposed to be convened within 30 calendar days of the declaration of the results of the parliamentary elections. However, that did not happen.

Although opposition members of parliament (MPs), including those from Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) took two oaths that day, BNP MPs did not take oaths as members of the Constitution Reform Council. As a result, the Constitution Reform Council was not formed on time.

On Mar 29, Shafiqur gave a notice to raise an adjournment motion on a matter of public importance under Rule 62 of the Rules of Procedure.

The opposition walked out of parliament on Apr 1, alleging that the adjournment motion was not remedied.