Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has urged that the referendum on the July Charter be held any day before the national election, departing from its earlier demand for a November deadline.
Speaking after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin in Dhaka on Wednesday, Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad said, “If the parliamentary election and referendum are held together, attention will shift to the candidates. The referendum must be held any day before the election.” Jamaat will submit a memorandum to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Thursday.
Azad denied reports of a formal alliance with the National Citizen Party (NCP) but said the party is coordinating with seven others to avoid fielding multiple candidates in the same constituencies. Jamaat will hold a rally in Dhaka on November 11, he announced. He also backed the amended RPO Act, calling it “positive,” and said, “The army, positioned now as a striking force, will effectively ensure law and order during the polls.”
Meanwhile, the NCP is holding informal talks with the BNP over seat-sharing and possible cabinet positions if the BNP returns to power. Party insiders say the NCP has sought 20 seats, including four in Dhaka, and may announce a partial list of candidates next week.
Sources say the NCP’s election steering committee has been formed under Nasiruddin Patwary, with key leaders eyeing Dhaka, Noakhali, and Rangpur constituencies. While BNP is cautious about formal alliances, it is keeping “channels open” to prevent NCP’s tilt towards Jamaat.