People will lose faith in democracy if referendum fails: Jamaat Ameer

People will lose faith in the electoral system and democratic institutions if the referendum verdict is not implemented, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman warned on Sunday.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of a three-day photo exhibition titled “Roktakkhore July” (July in Blood Letters) at Dhaka University, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly vowed to fight both inside parliament and on the streets to establish the public mandate. The Dhaka University branch of Islami Chhatra Shibir organised the event.

"We will fight inside the parliament to implement the referendum verdict, and if necessary, we will fight on the streets. If the referendum verdict fails, then the people will lose faith in the electoral system and democratic institutions," Shafiqur Rahman said. He insisted that his party would make no concessions or insult the public verdict.

The Jamaat chief accused the ruling party of backtracking on its pre-election commitments regarding institutional independence.

He alleged that the government now opposes an independent judiciary, an independent anti-corruption commission, an independent human rights commission, a strong commission on enforced disappearances, and an independent election commission.

Shafiqur Rahman also urged the government to properly honour those killed during the July movement, stating that financial aid alone to the families is insufficient. He noted that both the current government and the opposition are results of the July uprising, and the contributions of the uprising activists must be institutionalised.

Jamaat Secretary General Mia Ghulam Parwar also spoke at the event, accusing the ruling party of forgetting the promises of the July mass uprising after assuming power.

He claimed the government is now denying the referendum, the July National Charter implementation order, and the presidential orders issued through the Constitutional Reform Council.

Refuting claims from ministers that they were not consulted, Mia Ghulam Parwar stated that all political parties involved in the anti-fascist movement signed the July Charter at the South Plaza of the National Parliament on 17 October.

He questioned why the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Dal (BNP) changed its stance after winning a majority, noting that the party had raised no constitutional objections during the four months leading up to the elections.

Chhatra Shibir Central President Nurul Islam Saddam, Secretary General Sibgatullah Sibga, and Dhaka University Central Students' Union Vice President Md Abu Sadiq, also known as Shadik Kayem, addressed the gathering as well.