‘Everyone is doing politics by accepting Bangladesh, and so are we’

Rejecting Bangladesh's Liberation War would mean rejecting the country itself, said Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad.

He made the remark this afternoon while briefing journalists after a meeting between political parties and the National Consensus Commission at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.

Answering a question, Azad said, "We have always done politics by following Bangladesh's legal and constitutional process. We have repeatedly said that the Liberation War of Bangladesh is our achievement. Everyone is doing politics by accepting Bangladesh, and so are we. Therefore, there is no scope to bring back old debates. If the Liberation War is not accepted, it is in fact rejecting Bangladesh."

Azad said that elections will only be acceptable if they are held on the legal basis of the July Charter.

"We are talking about a credible election; a free and fair election that will be the best in history. This is possible only if the election is held on the legal basis of the July Charter. We have also said that the election must be held in February, based on the July Charter," he said.

Calling the July Charter a potential "state document", Azad stressed the need for legal recognition.

"If it does not have a legal basis, it will not get recognition as state evidence or as a document. But if it does, then the Bangladesh we dream of -- a state with good governance, justice, democracy, accountability, and welfare -- can be established. The old fascist practices will be reformed and replaced with a fresh beginning. For that, there is no alternative to giving the July Charter a strong legal foundation," he said.

Explaining further, Azad said, "We want the July Charter to be implemented with such strong legal measures that no one can later challenge or revoke it."

The Jamaat leader referred to Article 7 of the Constitution, which defines people's will as the supreme authority. "If this constitutional order is made on that basis, it will be the strongest. The government can make it even stronger by holding a referendum. Then there will be no loophole left for any legal or other challenge."