11-party alliance warns of street protests over delay in reform council meeting

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance has warned of taking to the streets if steps are not taken to convene a session of the Constitutional Reform Council in parliament by tomorrow.
After a meeting of the alliance’s liaison committee at Jamaat’s central office in Moghbazar today, its Coordinator and Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad issued the warning.
Speaking at the briefing, Azad said that alongside the parliamentary election, a referendum was also held on forming the Constitutional Reform Council, which received public backing. Accordingly, it is the government’s responsibility to promptly initiate the council’s activities, he said, expressing concern that no session has yet been convened.
Azad said representatives of the 11 parties discussed the prevailing political situation and the progress of the reform process at today’s meeting. In their view, the council’s activities should not be delayed if the July charter is to be fully implemented.
He further said that if the government does not take clear steps by tomorrow, the alliance will announce protest programmes after consulting its top leadership. He added that they are prepared to launch a united movement to uphold voters’ rights and public expectations.
Criticising the appointment of administrators in several city corporations, Azad said prolonged administrative appointments in place of elections could raise fresh questions about “election engineering”. He also urged the government to reconsider such decisions.
















