Staff Correspondent: In his speech at the protest rally organized by 11 party unity in Bijoynagar in the capital on Saturday afternoon, April 18, demanding the implementation of the referendum verdict, resolving the energy crisis, and reducing public suffering, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Majlum People’s Leader ATM Azharul Islam MP said that the people cannot be suppressed by party-based forces. He said that it is not possible to remain in power with a majority. To remain in power, public support is needed.

He told the government, “Awami League had a larger majority in parliament than you. But Awami League could not stay in power by going against the people. If you also go against the people by not accepting the verdict of the referendum, you will not be able to stay in power. If the people take to the streets, they will not be saved.”

He further said that BNP did not agree to accept the caretaker government system, but later was forced to accept the caretaker government system in the face of the movement. BNP does not want to accept the July Charter either, but will be forced to implement the July Charter in the face of the movement.

Stating that the government is instigating and supporting the creation of mobs, Azharul said, “Does the constitution that the government is invoking not have freedom of expression? If so, why was a mob created at the house of Jagpa spokesperson Engineer Rashed Pradhan?” Asking under what authority the government was formed, he said, “Accepting some parts of the constitution and not accepting some parts – that will not be allowed. The people are in favor of change.”

Therefore, the country can no longer function under the old system. For a new system, a Constitutional Reform Council must be formed and convened to implement the July Charter, in accordance with the results of the referendum.

At a protest rally organized by Jamaat-e-Islami’s Metropolitan South Secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud MP, National Citizen Party (NCP) chief organizer Nasiruddin Patwari said, “After the February 12 elections, instead of democracy, Ziaism has been established. After coming to power, BNP has taken over all state institutions with party leaders and activists. The government has made people stand in queues for oil. Half of the day is spent in that queue.”

If you stand in the queue in the morning, it says there is no oil in the afternoon, and if you stand in the queue in the evening, it says there is no oil. But the Energy Minister says there is no oil crisis. He also said that the future of Bangladesh will go in the spirit of the fighters of July 1971 and 24, in the spirit of Shaheed Osman Hadi. The future of the country will not be determined by the Zia regime.

He warned that if the July Charter is not implemented in accordance with the referendum verdict, party affiliation is stopped, and the independence of the judiciary is not ensured, even if we enter the bunker, we will not be saved.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General and former MP Dr. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad said, “Looking at the government’s behavior, it doesn’t seem like there has been any change in Bangladesh since August 5, 2024. The government’s behavior doesn’t seem like a new government has been formed. Like Hasina’s government, the current government has emerged in the role of an anti-people government.”

He further said that the government keeps repeating the constitution in the parliament. However, the constitution states that citizens should be given freedom of expression, but if someone speaks against the government, mobs are being created and their houses are being attacked. He protested the mob created by the government party leaders and activists at the house of JAGPA spokesperson Rashed Pradhan and said that according to the constitution that the Home Minister is invoking, Rashed Pradhan’s freedom of expression has not been given.

Nayeb-e-Ameer of the Khilafat Majlis, Maulana Ahmad Ali Qasemi, said, “The July warriors gave their blood to build a fascism-free Bangladesh. But those who are in power today are betraying the people and are rushing towards establishing neo-fascism.” He also said, “Just as Hasina did not get time to eat cooked food by going against the people, you will not get it either. The people of this country will not accept a government of a neighboring country.”

Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party Secretary General Mufti Musa Bin Izhar said, “Listening to the speeches of the Prime Minister and ministers of the BNP government, it seems that we are still in the era of the Awami League.” He said, “BNP has started importing fascism. However, no more fascism will be allowed to be imported into the new Bangladesh.”

Bangladesh Labor Party Secretary General Khandaker Mirajul Islam said, “We are standing at a time when we cannot remain silent like the Prime Minister. Today, people are suffering from the artificial fuel crisis and rising commodity prices. He urged the government to take initiatives to resolve the existing problems by implementing the July Charter by respecting the referendum verdict before the people take to the streets in agitation.”

Jatiya Ganapati Party (JAGPA) Vice President and party spokesperson Engineer Rashed Pradhan said that there is no electricity in rural areas for 12 to 18 hours, people are suffering due to rising commodity prices, and there is an oil crisis. But the government’s energy minister is claiming that there is no shortage of oil in the country. Then where is that oil kept, he asked. Rashed Pradhan said that a new Hawa Bhaban has been built. He is not afraid of any threats. The fight for justice will continue.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Organizing Secretary Maulana Enamul Haque said, “Just as the people of this country were not well before August 5, the people of this country are not well even after the 13th parliamentary election.” Calling for the implementation of the July Charter by accepting the popular vote, he said, “If the well-being of the people is taken away, the government will not be able to be well either.”

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Acting Secretary General Md. Billal Hossain Miyazi said that before the election, the Prime Minister had sought a yes vote in the referendum. But after the election, she is ignoring the public opinion and walking on the path of fascism. He warned the Prime Minister, “Remember, Hasina could not remain in power by going against the people, and you cannot either.”

Bangladesh Development Party Chairman Advocate Anwarul Islam Chan said that the Prime Minister had said ‘I have a plan’ before the election. He questioned whether he had a plan for not accepting the referendum result after the election. He warned that he would not be able to stay in power for long by ignoring the popular vote.

NCP leader Dr. Mahmuda Mitu was present at the event.

After the protest rally, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Central Executive Council member and Dhaka Metropolitan South Ameer Md. Nurul Islam Bulbul MP ​​called on the public to participate in the mass procession and said, “Today’s mass procession will be peaceful and democratic. From here, we want to send a message to the government – accept the people’s vote peacefully.” He urged the government not to push the country towards crisis and conflict.

Later, a huge mass procession passed through Bijoynagar-Kakrail-Nightengale intersection and ended at Shantinagar. Thousands of students and the public participated in the procession. Top leaders of the 11-party unity were present at the time.