Awami League Would Benefit Most If Referendum Is Implemented: Manju

Majibur Rahman Manju, Chairman of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) and the 11-party alliance candidate for the Feni-2 constituency, has claimed that the Awami League would be the biggest political beneficiary if the upcoming referendum results in a “Yes” verdict and the July Charter is implemented.

He made the remarks at a press conference held on Monday night (9 February) at his main election office in Khejuriya area of Feni town.

Manju said that although Awami League leaders and activists are currently campaigning for a “No” vote or calling for a boycott of the referendum, history suggests otherwise. According to him, whenever a functional and democratic political environment is restored in the country, the Awami League finds space to return to active politics. He recalled that after the severe political turmoil of 1975, the party was able to re-emerge due to prolonged movements that eventually restored democratic conditions.

At the press conference, the AB Party chairman described the July Charter as a welfare-oriented roadmap for all political parties. He warned that failure to implement the charter would seriously disrupt Bangladesh’s democratic structure, potentially creating long-term risks for all political forces.

Calling on voters, Manju urged them not to show blind loyalty to any particular party. Instead, he appealed to citizens to vote for the “Yes” option in the interest of the country and democracy, regardless of party affiliation. He said the July Charter could play a crucial role in reducing political hostility and building national consensus.

On the issue of trials for mass killings and alleged state looting, Manju said that for the Awami League’s own political future and to free itself from historical responsibility, justice in these matters is unavoidable. Drawing a comparison, he claimed that the party now bears responsibility for another episode of mass violence similar to the events of the night of 25 March 1971. Until accountability is ensured, he added, obstacles to national unity will remain.

He also called on all political forces in Bangladesh to abandon negative political practices and work toward broader national unity.

Alongside national political issues, Manju outlined his electoral plans to address local challenges in Feni district. He pledged practical measures to tackle severe flooding, prolonged waterlogging, the rise of teenage gangs, acute gas shortages, and traffic congestion. He also presented his alliance’s specific plans to overcome stagnation in the education and healthcare sectors.

The press conference was attended by Feni district Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Mufti Abdul Hannan, former Ameer AKM Shamsuddin, and various central and local leaders of the 11-party alliance. They collectively expressed their commitment to making the referendum campaign and the election a success, stating that they believe the process could mark the beginning of a new chapter in Bangladesh’s political history.