Reporter Name 
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has sharply criticized the interim government’s decision to conduct the upcoming national election and constitutional referendum on the same day, saying the move undermines the democratic process and disregards both voter sentiment and administrative realities.
At a press briefing held Thursday afternoon at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar expressed strong dissatisfaction with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s recent announcement confirming that both events will take place concurrently.
“We have consistently urged the government not to hold the national election and referendum on the same day. We provided logical and practical arguments explaining why the two should be separated. Unfortunately, our calls were ignored,” Porwar told reporters.
He explained that logistical complications and the potential for irregularities could severely affect both voting processes if they are held simultaneously.
“In every national election, there are polling centers where voting gets suspended due to irregularities or disturbances. If the balloting for election candidates is halted in those centers, what will happen to the referendum votes cast in the same places?” he asked.
Porwar cautioned that such a move could cause widespread confusion among the country’s more than 125 million voters, who are already preparing for a critical national poll.
“Combining two major national exercises on the same day will not only burden the Election Commission but also create uncertainty and anxiety among voters. This is why our eight-party alliance proposed that the referendum be held before the general election,” he said.
According to Porwar, the Chief Adviser’s recent address to the nation failed to address these fundamental concerns.
“The speech has left many questions unanswered. We expected the government to show flexibility and a clear understanding of the logistical and democratic implications. Instead, it has chosen a path that risks diluting the people’s voice,” he noted.
The Jamaat secretary general also announced that the party’s Executive Council would meet later on Thursday evening to thoroughly review the government’s recent decisions.
“We will assess the Chief Adviser’s address and its implications in detail. The remaining parties in our alliance will also hold internal discussions, after which we will issue a joint, comprehensive response,” he said.
Porwar added that Jamaat and its allies remain committed to ensuring that the upcoming election and referendum reflect the genuine will of the people. “We believe that the government should prioritize transparency, administrative preparedness, and voter confidence over speed or convenience. The people’s voice must not be compromised for the sake of political expediency,” he emphasized.
He concluded by calling on the interim government to reconsider its decision and engage in meaningful dialogue with all political stakeholders to avoid complications that could undermine the credibility of both the election and the referendum.
