Speakers urge EC at Shujan roundtable
Speakers at a roundtable yesterday urged the Election Commission (EC) to lead a large-scale public awareness campaign on the upcoming referendum to prevent political controversy and ensure the process is not perceived as partisan.
They said the referendum is a crucial step to prevent the return of fascism, but warned that the public remains largely unaware of the technical details and significance of the 48 proposed constitutional reforms.
The discussion, titled "Referendum 2026: What and Why?", was organised by Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.
At the event, Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain said relying solely on the government for publicity could be counterproductive.
"The EC's responsibility is not only to conduct the referendum but also to explain it to the people. If only the government does this, the process will face criticism and be labelled partisan," he said.
Drawing on his experience as a former election commissioner, Sakhawat urged the EC to engage NGOs in door-to-door campaigns.
He also criticised the lack of clarity among major political parties regarding their stance on reforms.
"Do political parties want to continue as before, or do they want change?" he asked.
He said the previous regime collapsed "like a glass house" and warned against returning to a system moving toward one-party rule. He stressed that institutional reforms and power balancing can no longer be delayed.
Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Monir Haider described the July National Charter as a national document developed from the country's experience over the past 54 years to identify necessary reforms.
To address the lack of clarity among voters, Haider said religious and social platforms would be used for outreach.
He said a flyer written in simple language has been prepared and could be read during Friday prayers in mosques, with similar efforts planned for temples and churches.
Presenting the keynote, Shujan Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said if the "Yes" vote wins in the referendum, the next parliament will form a Constitution Reform Council to amend the constitution within 180 working days of its first session, he said.
Badiul Alam noted that most active political parties have signed the July National Charter and therefore share responsibility for informing voters.
He said parties must clearly explain in their election manifestos how they plan to implement the recommendations of the interim government's 11 reform commissions.
"The people no longer want only discussions; they want to see reforms implemented," he said.
Former Appellate Division Justice MA Matin delivered the welcome speech at the programme.
