Last Updated on November 6, 2025 7:43 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has warned of tougher action if the government fails to hold a referendum on the July National Charter before the upcoming national election.
Speaking at a rally at Dhaka’s Paltan intersection on Thursday, the party’s deputy chief Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said: “We had hoped that the blood spilled in July and August would be the last. But we are disappointed. We will shed blood again if necessary, but we will not allow the July Uprising to fail.”
Taher said the government must act as a “referee” to facilitate inter-party dialogue, adding, “We have already formed a two-member committee for talks. The government should announce its own.”
He confirmed he tried to contact BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to discuss cooperation but could not reach him.
Taher warned that unless the government meets their five-point demands by November 11, Jamaat will stage a massive “March to Dhaka.”
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar echoed the warning: “Organise the referendum by November or you will destroy the respect you have earned.”
At the rally, Gazi Ataur Rahman of Islami Andolan Bangladesh said the referendum must precede the election, insisting it cannot be held simultaneously.
Later, leaders of the eight-party alliance submitted a memorandum to Chief Adviser Prof Yunus through Adviser for Industries Adilur Rahman, pressing for reforms and referendum implementation.
BNP reserves 64 seats for allies, eyes broad coalition: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has reserved 64 parliamentary seats for allies as it seeks to form a broad coalition ahead of the national polls.
Party insiders said BNP is opting for an “understanding-based” arrangement instead of a formal alliance, since the amended election law requires each party to contest under its own symbol. “We may not field candidates where our allies will contest,” said BNP Standing Committee Member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, ruling out any pact with Jamaat-e-Islami.
Discussions are ongoing with several groups, including the National Citizen Party (NCP), Gana Odhikar Parishad, Amar Bangladesh Party, and Hefazat-e-Islam, alongside BNP’s existing allies such as the 12-Party Alliance and Ganatantra Manch.
BNP sources said parties have demanded nominations for up to 222 constituencies. “Green signals” have already been given to at least 12 allied candidates, including Mahmudur Rahman Manna (Bogura-2), Andalib Rahman Partha (Dhaka-17), Bobby Hajjaj (Dhaka-13), and Nurul Haque Nur (Patuakhali-3). BNP is expected to allocate 45–55 seats to its partners. The party earlier published a list of 237 candidates while leaving 63 seats open for allies. BNP leader Reza Kibria, son of late finance minister Shah AMS Kibria, has joined the party and may contest from Habiganj-1.
Party officials said seat-sharing deals will be finalised after further talks, though some leaders fear smaller allies may lack sufficient grassroots strength to secure wins.