CA's speech fails to meet public expectations: Parwar

The decision to hold the next national election and the referendum on proposals from the July National Charter on the same day has failed to meet public expectations, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said.

In his immediate reaction to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's speech on Thursday, Porwar said, "By announcing that the polls and referendum will be held on the same day, the government has plunged the country into further crisis." The Jamaat leader made the remarks while speaking at a press conference held at the party's central office in the capital.

"If the national election and the referendum are held on the same day and balloting is suspended in any area due to unrest, what will happen to the 'Yes' or 'No' votes in the referendum?" he questioned.

"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," he said.

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.

Earlier in the day, during a national address, the chief adviser said the 13th national election and a referendum on the July Charter proposals will be held simultaneously in the first half of February next year.

He also announced that the Advisory Council of the interim government has approved the July National Charter (Reform of Constitution) Implementation Order 2025.