Jamaat says national polls, referendum on same day 'unacceptable to nation'
The chief adviser’s announcement that both votes would be held simultaneously has deepened uncertainty about the reform process, he says
The Jamaat-e-Islami has said the decision to hold the national election and the referendum on July National Charter on the same day is "unacceptable to the nation".
Scheduling both the national polls and the referendum simultaneously disregards the people's demands, the party said, reviewing the chief adviser's address to the nation delivered earlier in the day.
The review meeting of the party's central executive council was held at the central office yesterday evening, chaired by Jamaat's Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, according to a post on the party's official Facebook page.
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Earlier, the chief adviser announced that the 13th national election and a referendum on the July Charter proposals will be held simultaneously in the first half of February next year.
In an immediate reaction, the party's Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said the decision has failed to meet public expectations. "By announcing that the polls and referendum will be held on the same day, the government has plunged the country into further crisis."
Speaking at a press conference held at the party's central office in Dhaka, he said, "In every national election in Bangladesh's history, voting in some centres has been suspended or marred by violence. If a referendum is held on the same day, the closure of any polling centre would affect both the election and the referendum."
The Jamaat leader further said that a fair and participatory election can only be ensured by first establishing the legal basis of the July Charter and holding a referendum before the national polls.
People's expectations not met by decision to hold polls, referendum same day: Porwar
Declared programmes to be continued
Golam Porwar said that the previously declared programmes of the eight-party alliance will continue as planned.
He added that the top leaders of the eight-party alliance will meet on 16 November and will issue a joint statement and announce their next course of action.
Jamaat and its seven like-minded parties are currently reviewing the chief adviser's address within their respective forums, he said, adding that his party's central executive committee will also hold a meeting this evening to discuss the matter in detail, after which Jamaat will announce its official response and next programmes.
