Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Islamists Bangladesh held a rally on Tuesday demanding the legalization of the national charter proposed after the ouster of the previous interim government, saying there was no possibility of holding general elections without a legally binding roadmap for political reforms.
Thousands of supporters of the largest Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami and seven other political parties gathered in the capital. DhakaIt also demanded that the next elections – expected to be held in early 2026 – be held under a proportional representation system.
The main demand is for a referendum on the “July National Charter”, named after the national uprising that began in July 2024 and led to the downfall of the former prime minister. Sheikh Hasina Critics say the 15-year rule has become increasingly autocratic.
But the charter is currently non-binding, and parties say a referendum is needed to make it legally binding and part of the constitution. In Bangladesh, a parliamentary democracy of 170 million people, only a Parliament can change the Constitution.
The roadmap for political reform was proposed by an interim government headed by the Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus Who took power on August 5 last year, three days after Hasina was ousted from power in the public revolt.
Its provisions would include bringing more checks and balances to the country’s political system to avoid authoritarian governance, including giving more authority to the presidency to balance a powerful prime ministerial position. It also proposes limits on the tenure of MLAs and measures to prevent conflict of interest, money laundering and corruption.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, signed the charter on October 17 along with 24 other parties. There are 52 registered political parties in the country. Apart from Zia’s party, Hasina’s Awami League party is the second biggest party. The Yunus-led government has banned its activities and Hasina is facing trial over the deaths of hundreds of people during last year’s rebellion.
The Jamaat-e-Islami party, which has a dark history dating back to Bangladesh’s independence struggle, has signed the charter and is preparing a bigger political platform to contest the next elections in the absence of the Awami League.
At Tuesday’s rally, supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami and other allied parties said there would be no elections until a referendum was held and the charter was made binding.
A special tribunal dealing with allegations of crimes against humanity is due to announce the date of verdict against Hasina on Thursday. The former prime minister, who has condemned the trial process as a “kangaroo court”, has been in exile in India since stepping down from his post. Bangladesh’s politics remains at a crossroads under the leadership of Yunus. Human rights groups have accused the Yunus-led government of violating human and political rights of the opposition, especially Hasina’s supporters.
Hasina’s son previously told The Associated Press that only an inclusive election could stabilize the country.