Future of Bangladesh to be determined through referendum: Ali Riaz

The upcoming referendum aims to determine the future of Bangladesh, said Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Professor Ali Riaz, today (11 January)

The people of Bangladesh are the true owners of the country, Ali Riaz, the chief coordinator of the government's referendum campaign said at the divisional Imam conference at Bells Park in Barisal, organised by the divisional administration and the Islamic Foundation as part of nationwide referendum awareness activities.

He urged everyone to use the referendum to shape the nation's future and decide how elected representatives will run the country.

He added that Bangladesh has long sought a government accountable to its citizens. However, over the past fifty-six years, the country has not achieved this goal. He said sixteen years of fascist rule and oppression show that change in the system is necessary.

Ali Riaz called for participation in the referendum regardless of political differences. He said the referendum will allow citizens to build the nation based on the July Charter in the same way they elect representatives in general elections.

The conference was presided over by Barisal Divisional Commissioner Md Mahfuzur Rahman. Special guests included Monir Haidar, special assistant (consensus) to the Chief Adviser, and Kamal Uddin, secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

More than twelve hundred imams from various districts of Barisal division attended the conference. The event marked the first day of discussions with divisional and district stakeholders to promote the referendum and encourage voter participation.

Monir Haidar urged the imams to ensure participation in the referendum, saying the country's reform process began after the July uprising removed a criminal mafia. He warned that failure of the referendum could allow them to return and called on religious leaders to provide accurate information against false propaganda.

Kamal Uddin noted that religious scholars have faced oppression over the past sixteen years. He said this is the first opportunity in Bangladesh's history to decide the country's future and expressed hope that the religious community will play a major role in the referendum.

Barisal Range DIG Monjur Morshed Alam, Barisal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam, Divisional Imam Association President Maulana Abdul Nizami, and Islamic Foundation Barisal Director Nurul Islam also spoke at the conference.