Jamaat chief says November 7 spirit must guide state governance; urges implementation of July Charter and referendum verdictMM Rahmatullah: Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman has called for national unity to establish democracy, justice and people's rights, saying the spirit of November 7 represents a struggle against injustice, authoritarianism and the denial of democratic freedoms.“Those who ignore the expectations and rights of the people will not be forgiven by history,” he said while addressing a discussion meeting marking the National Revolution and Solidarity Day, organised by Jamaat-e-Islami's Dhaka North city unit in the capital on Friday.The meeting was held at Al-Falah Auditorium at 10:30am, with Jamaat Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar as a special guest. Dhaka North city unit Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin presided over the programme.Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the country's political history offered repeated lessons about the consequences of authoritarian rule, suppression of opposition voices and the denial of citizens' fundamental rights.Recalling the political developments of the early years after independence, he alleged that the then government imposed restrictions on political and religious organisations, weakened accountability and allowed widespread abuses of power. He also accused the administration of suppressing dissent, corruption, looting and extrajudicial killings.Referring to the political developments of 1975, he said the establishment of the one-party BAKSAL system on January 25 that year had undermined multiparty democracy and restricted press freedom.He also recalled the political and military developments between August 15 and November 7, 1975, saying the country experienced successive power shifts and uncertainty during that period.According to him, after the November 3 counter-coup led by Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf, Ziaur Rahman remained under detention until November 7, when soldiers organised to secure his release. He said soldiers took to the streets with tanks in the early hours of November 7, while people coming out of mosques after prayers welcomed them with slogans of Takbir. Similar developments took place in several important cities, he added.“The soldiers carried out the revolution, while the people expressed solidarity with it. That is why the day is known as National Revolution and Solidarity Day,” he said.The Jamaat chief also stressed the need to recognise the contributions of different individuals and political groups to the country's Liberation War and independence movement, saying no single person or party could claim exclusive ownership of the nation's history.He said political differences should not prevent recognition of the contributions made by people at different stages of the struggle for independence.Referring to the political transition of 1990, he said people had again taken to the streets against misrule, corruption and inefficiency. He also highlighted the importance of political compromise, dialogue and flexibility in ensuring democratic stability.Turning to the current political situation, Dr Shafiqur Rahman urged the government to respect the outcome of the referendum and implement the commitments made to the people before the election.He alleged that several reform initiatives introduced through 133 ordinances by the interim government had not received adequate parliamentary consideration. He expressed concern over the cancellation of 20 ordinances, arguing that their retention could have helped prevent the return of authoritarian practices.He further accused the government of attempting to establish partisan control over important public institutions, including universities, district councils, city corporations and constitutional bodies.Criticising what he described as politically motivated appointments, he said public institutions must be led by competent and impartial individuals rather than people selected on the basis of party affiliation.He also expressed concern over developments involving the Public Service Commission, alleging that its chairman had been removed and other members were facing pressure to leave their positions.The opposition leader said students had taken part in movements demanding merit-based recruitment and equal opportunities, and warned that political patronage in public employment would undermine the prospects of the country's young generation.On the role of the opposition, he said Jamaat-e-Islami wanted Parliament to function effectively and would cooperate with the government on justified issues while opposing decisions it considered unjust.He also criticised the government's approach to restructuring the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), saying changing the force's name while retaining its existing personnel and structure would not resolve the underlying problems.He suggested that the government could take time for consultation and develop a new law enforcement structure with competent and patriotic personnel.Dr Shafiqur Rahman reiterated that the July Charter and the referendum verdict must be implemented in line with the people's mandate.He said the country's future depended on meaningful reforms, accountability and the protection of democratic rights, adding that authoritarianism was not confined to any particular political party but could emerge whenever those in power ignored public interests.He also referred to the July-August 2024 mass uprising, describing it as an important event in the country's political history. He said Jamaat-e-Islami had not claimed exclusive credit for the movement and had tried to stand beside the families of those killed and people injured or disabled during the protests, irrespective of their political identities.Calling for a clear government position on issues involving national interests, including the proposed Matarbari-related matters, he warned against agreements or decisions that could undermine Bangladesh's sovereignty and national interests.He said the country's young generation and people would reject domination and stand for an independent nation based on justice, accountability and equal rights.“Until a genuinely independent and justice-based state is established, our movement and political struggle will continue,” he said.Speaking as a special guest, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said November 7 should not be viewed merely as a military event, arguing that it was also linked to public resentment over one-party rule and the denial of democratic and civil rights.He called on the government to respect people's voting rights and democratic aspirations and implement the July Charter and referendum verdict.In his presidential address, Mohammad Selim Uddin said the aspirations for an equitable and democratic Bangladesh that emerged after independence had yet to be fully realised.He said the 2024 mass uprising had sought not merely a change of government but fundamental reforms in the state and society.Warning that extortion, corruption, market syndicates, partisan control and public suffering could undermine those aspirations, he called for collective efforts to establish a just, accountable and discrimination-free Bangladesh.The programme was conducted by Nazim Uddin Mollah, a central Majlish-e-Shura member and assistant secretary of the Dhaka North city unit. Among others, Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubayer, Dhaka North city unit Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdur Rahman Musa, Engineer Golam Mostafa, Assistant Secretary Mahfuzur Rahman, Dr Fakhruddin Manik and Yasin Arafat addressed the meeting.