If you fear opposition movement, accept their demands: Jamaat Leader Abdul Halim

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General and Rangpur-Dinajpur regional director Maulana Abdul Halim has urged the government to accept the opposition’s demands if it fears their movement.

“If you are afraid, accept the demands. Announce that you will implement the verdict of the referendum,” he said.

He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while addressing a preparatory meeting organized by the Rangpur-Dinajpur region at the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Rangpur Metropolitan office. The meeting was held to prepare for the Dhaka-to-Rangpur long march scheduled for September 19, announced by an 11-party alliance.

Abdul Halim said implementation of the people’s verdict in the referendum is one of the six fundamental demands of the 11-party alliance’s long march.

He said the government had previously raised the issue of a referendum on holding the national parliamentary election and implementing the July reforms in accordance with the president’s order.

“Among these issues, the BNP accepted one and formed the government. But the government is ignoring the demand to implement the people’s verdict in the referendum,” he said.

He claimed that this amounted to insulting the people and had raised questions about whether the government was trying to deceive the public.

Referring to statements by BNP leaders, Abdul Halim said they had pledged to implement the July Charter “to the letter,” but were not accepting the referendum issue.

“There is a huge difference between the two. The people want a straightforward answer,” he said.

He said the people had voted to give the BNP an opportunity to form the government, while Jamaat-e-Islami was currently in the opposition.

“If the people’s verdict in the referendum is implemented, it will also be possible to fulfill the expectations of students and the public who participated in the July Revolution and mass uprising,” he said.

Criticism of home minister

Criticizing the home minister, Abdul Halim said the minister frequently referred to Paltan Maidan and Shahbag in his remarks and did so in a dismissive tone.

“He could have spoken differently, in a welcoming manner,” he said.

He also criticized the home minister over comments concerning July activist Hasnat Abdullah and Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud.

According to Abdul Halim, the home minister had once been forced to flee because of the Shahbag Square movement.

“Now, after becoming the home minister, he has got the opportunity to make big statements,” he said.

Referring to the Liberation War and the 2024 movement, Abdul Halim said Bangladesh achieved independence through the Liberation War following the sacrifice of the people in 1971.

“The honor of the Liberation War and independence is the pride of the nation,” he said.

However, he claimed that the July movement of 2024 had “buried the grave” of hegemonic forces. He called for preserving that spirit and ensuring the dignity of those who played roles in the July mass uprising.

He also urged the government to move forward by accepting the people’s verdict in the referendum on implementing the July Charter.

Questions over election pledge

Referring to a statement made by the current prime minister during the election campaign in Rangpur, Abdul Halim said the prime minister had visited the grave of Abu Sayeed and told a rally in Rangpur that voters would cast two votes "one in the referendum and another for his party.

“Why is the government now betraying Abu Sayeed and the other martyrs?” he asked.

Highlighting the difficulties faced by people, Abdul Halim said the public was worried about shortages of gas, electricity, fuel and fertilizer, while rising commodity prices had also left people struggling.

He said the BNP had pledged in its 31-point agenda to ensure neutrality in local government.

Allegations of politicization

Criticizing the appointment of administrators to district councils, Abdul Halim alleged that BNP-affiliated individuals had been appointed as administrators in around 50 district councils across the country.

He claimed that appointing party figures who had lost national elections by margins of 150,000 to 200,000 votes amounted to making a mockery of the people’s votes.

Regarding Rangpur, he said voters in the region’s six constituencies had supported candidates backed by the 11-party alliance.

“Yet, disregarding the people’s opinion, the government has appointed defeated party-affiliated individuals as administrators,” he said.

He also accused the government of politicizing public institutions and city corporations.

He said that previously, secretaries from different government departments or qualified professionals were appointed to such institutions, whereas the current government was appointing people known for their party affiliations and positions.

“This government is showing an even narrower form of politicization than the fascist government,” he alleged.

Long march on September 19

Speaking about the September 19 Dhaka-to-Rangpur long march, Abdul Halim said a human chain would be formed from Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka to Rangpur Zilla School, with people raising their voices and political leaders delivering strong messages.

“We have to reach out to the people,” he said, urging activists to organize public meetings, processions and picketing to demand implementation of the referendum verdict.

He called on leaders and activists in Rangpur and Dinajpur to play their roles in ensuring that the programs were conducted peacefully.

“InshaAllah, the government will be compelled to accept and implement the people’s verdict in the referendum,” he said.

Several central and regional leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir attended the preparatory meeting, including Central Executive Council members Maulana Momtaz Uddin and Maulana ATM Azam Khan, as well as leaders from Rangpur, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Gaibandha, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts.

-HIS