Jamaat wants referendum on July Charter in November

Bangla Press Desk:  Jamaat-e-Islami has told the Election Commission (EC) that it wants the referendum on implementing the July Charter to be held next month, the Islamic party’s Nayeb-e-Amir Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher told reporters at a post-meeting briefing on Monday.

Earlier, Jamaat leaders met Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin and other Election Commissioners, Taher said.

Jamaat leaders urged the Election Commissioners to take preparations for introducing the proportionate representation (PR) system in the upcoming general elections as the existing system failed to ensure fairness in all the previous elections, Taher said.

In reply, the Election Commissioners said the matter rests with the government.

Jamaat leaders also talked about expatriate voters and fair vote casting processes.

Some parties want the referendum on July Charter and the general elections to be held simultaneously on the same date.

However, Jamaat believes this will subject both elections to rigging and subversion risks. Furthermore, during the simultaneous elections, politicians will naturally be more focused on getting public support for aspiring lawmakers instead of state reform proposals enshrined in the July Charter. This will reduce the urgency of the July Charter, Taher told reporters.

BP/SP