Eight Islamist parties demand July Charter referendum in November

They claim a delay in announcing a referendum date would result in trouble during the elections

Eight Islamist parties have called for a referendum in November on implementing the July National Charter, alongside four other demands.

Speaking at a joint press conference at the National Press Club on Wednesday, the parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami, warned that any delay in announcing a referendum date would push the February election into deeper uncertainty.

The parties have planned to submit a memorandum outlining their demands to the Election Commission on Thursday, and announce future programmes after a meeting on Nov 3.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said the Consensus Commission’s report to the government had left the referendum timeline “unresolved”.

“They have not said anything specific. They only said the referendum could be held on election day or any time before. They have left it hanging, creating a critical situation. The ball is now in the government’s court,” he said.

He added that all eight parties had been clear in demanding a November referendum before the national election.

The five-point set of demands includes:

• Immediate issuance of an order to implement the July National Charter, followed by a referendum on it within November
• Introduction of proportional representation (PR) in both houses of parliament for the next national election
• Ensuring a level playing field for a free, fair and credible election
• Visible accountability for “atrocities, killings and corruption” by the “fascist government”
• A ban on the activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance, whom they labelled as “accomplices of autocracy”