Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman today said July Charter must be given a legal basis and without ensuring such legal basis, there is no possibility of holding any election. 

 “Our number one demand is that the July revolution must be recognised. The July Charter must be given legal basis. Without that legal foundation there is no possibility of holding elections in 2026,” he said.

Jamaat Ameer was addressing the eight-party rally at Paltan intersection, which was called to press five demands — including issuance of an order to implement the July Charter and holding a referendum on the order by November.

Dr Shafiqur said that first the July Charter must be legally recognized, and then national parliamentary election can be held. “Those who will not accept the July revolution, there will be no election for them in 2026,” he said.

“If you want to see elections in 2026, first recognise the July Charter,” he said, adding that the freedom-loving people of the country demand a referendum before the next national parliament election.

Dr. Shafiqur said, “All parties agreed on the referendum, so why this game over the date for it? When we all signed in agreement, it is logical that the referendum should come first.”

“Through referendum the legal groundwork will be laid, Insha’Allah, and on that basis the next national parliament election will be held. When that election is held, there will be no doubt or suspicion,” he said.

Jamaat Ameer said that the national election will be held in February, before the start of Ramadan, and warned against attempts to create confusion around the election schedule. 

He said the eight parties had presented their views to the National Consensus Commission and that they had not included any note of dissent, describing their engagement there as positive and constructive.

Referring to the July martyrs and injured, Dr. Shafiqur appealed to political parties to respect the sacrifices of those who took part in the July movement and to listen to the language of the people. 

Quoting Maulana Mamunul Haque, he said: “We fought and drove fascism away; we will fight and secure the people’s demands. I say plainly: victory will belong to the people, not to any one party, Insha’Allah.”

Jamaat Ameer announced that the movement would continue with steadfastness until the people’s demands are met, adding that the eight-party leaders would meet after the rally to chalk out further programmes and urged the government to heed to the voice of the people and hold the referendum at the earliest.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim (Pir Saheb Charmonai) said July Charter was drafted with the aim of building a beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh, and demanded that the charter be given legal force before the next national election.
He said all political parties have agreed on the need for a legal basis and a referendum to establish it. “But those who have governed the country several times in the past are proposing that the referendum be held on the same day as the national election,” he said.

On what legal basis will you hold that election?” he asked, adding that the election can only be legitimate once the July Charter receives legal recognition.

He said the country is now divided into two camps — patriots and power-seekers — and accused Awami League of clinging to power and ultimately fleeing the country to take refuge across the border.

He warned those who are attempting to delay the pre-election referendum and alleged that some forces, which have intention of establishing a new form of fascism, were campaigning against holding the referendum before the election.

“Today Bangladesh’s students, the public and the people from all walks of life want a national election based on the legal foundation of the July Charter,” he said. 

Rezaul Karim urged the government to take an early, positive decision on holding the referendum; otherwise, he said, they would be compelled to wage tougher movement. 

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque, Nezam-e-Islam Party Ameer Principal Maulana Sarwar Kamal Azizi, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) Vice-President and Spokesperson Rashed Pradhan, Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Abdul Basit Azad, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan Ameer Maulana Habibullah Miaji and Bangladesh Development Party President Advocate Anwarul Haque Chan also addressed the rally.

The demands of eight parties include: issuing a constitutional order to implement the July Charter and holding a referendum within November, introducing the proportional representation (PR) system in both houses in the parliament, ensuring a level playing field for all to ensure a free, fair, and credible election, ensuring visible justice for all acts of repression, genocide, and corruption committed by the fascist regime; and banning the activities of the autocrat’s accomplices—the Jatiya Party and the 14-Party Alliance.  

The eight Islamic parties are Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA), and Bangladesh Development Party (BDP).