ET Desk:  A national rally of July martyrs’ families and July fighters was held at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital on Saturday, April 25, at the initiative of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, demanding the implementation of the referendum.

The rally officially began at 10 am with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Qari Enayet Ullah Saifi, moderated by Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubayer, Assistant Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Secretary of the Central Propaganda and Media Department. The Quran recitation was translated by Sharif Bayzid Mahmud. Islamic songs were performed by artist Mashiur Rahman. The chief guest of the rally was the leader of the opposition and the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman MP.

The rally was attended by top leaders of the 11-party unity, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer, Assistant Secretary Generals, members of the Central Executive Council, members of the Central Working Committee, leaders of Dhaka Metropolitan Jamaat, central and metropolitan officials of Jamaat’s women’s division, honorable MPs of Jamaat-e-Islami and 11 parties, and leaders of DUCSU, JACSU, CHAKSU, JACSU, RAKSU. Members of the families of July martyrs from all over the country joined the rally.

In addition, several thousand July fighters, including more than two thousand July fighters who were injured and disabled in the July Movement, joined the rally.

In his speech as the chief guest, Opposition Leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “In the great National Parliament, the ruling party talks about July and also talks about Shaheed Hadi; but in practice, we see the opposite from the ruling party. They accept 51% of the two votes – which is in their own interests, but do not accept 70% of the other referendum – which will save the ruling group from becoming a dictatorship, free the nation from discrimination, establish good governance and give the people a taste of true freedom.”

Their hypocrisy is shameful and sad for the nation. He said, “The day 70 percent of the votes are accepted, Bangladesh will be free from fascism.”

He alleged that BNP is following the Awami fascist path in every issue, which used to mock the nation and the opposition and establish authoritarianism with sticks. And now, it is regrettable that BNP is opposing every issue where the state needs reforms. This is a clear betrayal of the nation.

He warned BNP, if there was no July in the country, there would be no politics in the country. If the husbands and children of our brothers and sisters had not given their lives, you could not have come to power. When the families of the martyrs were crying, BNP did not have time to stand by the families of the martyrs. At that time, they wanted elections to come to power. Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, that day, the entire student community came out on the streets. Everyone is a mastermind. We have a responsibility to every individual and family. We have an accountability for what we can and cannot do.।

He also said that the laws that would be implemented and the ordinances that would be passed would lead to state reforms – BNP is canceling them. They are on the path of fascism by denying the verdict of the referendum. Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that MP Masum Mustafa was attacked. The July fighters did not want such a Bangladesh as the attack on Dhaka University students at Shahbagh Police Station and the display of terror in educational institutions. We do not want such a Bangladesh. We want a Bangladesh of change. Mothers and sisters will go out safely and return safely after work.

The opposition leader further said, July will return again. Then fascism will finally be gone. The people will win in that fight. We will continue the fight from the front lines. The people will win. We are hopeful that Bangladesh will change. We will continue this fight in Parliament and on the streets. We want the countrymen on the field. We do not have any personal demands. All demands are in the interest of the country, in the interest of the people.

Jatiya Nagorik Party convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam MP said, “The countrymen dreamed of a new Bangladesh through the July coup. As a result, the Reform Commission was formed. But BNP has blocked every step. Although it finally agreed to a referendum, it is denying the referendum verdict immediately after the election. In fact, BNP is denying its existence. No government has been so unpopular in just two months, as the BNP government has been. We are on the streets and in parliament to earn the respect of the July fighters.” We will fulfill the people’s demands and leave.

LDP Chairman Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram said, Tarek Rahman did not know the real situation of the country during the July Movement. He is listening to what is being told to him. The people do not want farmer cards, they do not want family cards. He said, there is a fear of famine ahead, the economy cannot be managed. Which will have an impact on the people. The BNP people are involved in extortion. He told the Prime Minister, you are surrounded, come out of the siege. He also suggested sitting with the opposition leader and determining the policy to liberate the nation.

Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque said that 70% of the people voted ‘yes’ in the referendum. But deep down, BNP campaigned for ‘no’. BNP got away with hypocrisy and hypocrisy once. They will have to stand in the public dock in the future. The people want the July Charter to be implemented in letter and spirit through the session of the Constitutional Reform Council, he said.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer ATM Azharul Islam MP Said, the July movement was to build a new Bangladesh, to free it from hegemony. Today, that movement is being denied. Today, after two months, we have to take to the streets. This will not be pleasant for anyone. The country became independent again in July. Today, BNP wants to take it towards one-man rule again, but the people of Bangladesh will not accept it. If the government does not implement the referendum verdict, then if the 11-party movement calls for it, they will be the first to be martyred, he vowed.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar said, “The government is trying to mislead the people. We will once again build a strong movement with the people to implement the referendum verdict. BNP has given a note of dissent to every proposal for reforming the constitutional structures that are responsible for becoming fascist.”

Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan MP said, the current government does not accept the Human Rights Commission, the Commission on Disappearances, the Police Reform Commission, the separate secretariat ordinance for the judiciary and the referendum. They have canceled all these by force. No fascist government has been able to survive in Bangladesh. The families of July martyrs, July injured and disabled people and July fighters have united today to demand the implementation of the referendum verdict.

Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Dr. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad said, “The July fighters did not think that they would have to hold another rally after the referendum demanding the implementation of the July Charter. The July Charter was supposed to be implemented in the first session of the parliament. The July martyrs’ families do not want to hear the statement on the implementation of the July Charter, but rather want to hear when the session of the Constitutional Reform Council will be called. We, 11 parties, will unite and protest and demand the implementation of the July Charter.”

Central President of Islami Chhatra Shibir Nurul Islam Saddam said, those who are rehabilitating fascism will have the same fate as the fugitive Awami League. The seat on which the government sits is the seat of the blood of the July fighters. If you betray the July fighters and break their legs, your legs will be broken. Try to understand the voice that the July fighters raised when they gathered in Shahbagh today. Implement the July Charter.

Also speaking were AB Party Secretary General Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, JAGPA President Barrister Tasmia Pradhan, BDP Chairman Advocate Anwarul Islam Chan, Bangladesh Nezam-e-Islam Party Senior Nayeb Ameer Mukhlesur Rahman Qasemi, Khelafat Majlis Senior Nayeb Ameer Maulana Sakhawat Hossain, Jamaat Central Executive Council Member and Dhaka Metropolitan South Jamaat Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul MP, Central Executive Council Member and Dhaka Metropolitan North Jamaat Ameer Selim Uddin, Bangladesh Labor Party Chairman Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran, Central Working Committee Member and President of Bangladesh Lawyers Council Advocate Jasim, Rokeya Begum, mother of July’s child martyr Jabir Ibrahim, JACSU VP Riazul Islam and JACSU GS Mazharul Islam.

July fighter Kamrul Hasan addressed the inaugural session of the rally. July martyr families, injured and disabled people and July fighters spoke at the rally, including Advocate Shahidul Islam Khan, father of July martyr Zubair Khan, Shahidul Islam Khan, father of martyr Anas Farhan Fayyaz, July fighter Touhid Farazi, father of July martyr Zakir Hossain, father of martyr Sheikh Jamal Hossain, father of martyr Gaziur Rahman and July fighter Atiur Islam, who lost his hand, among others.

The program was jointly hosted by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary General and Secretary of the Central Propaganda and Media Department, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, and Central Executive Council members Advocate Matiur Rahman Akand, Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, and Central Majlis-e-Shura member Yasin Arafat.