||
Party demands action against
armed groups, lower prices and constitutional reformsDesk Report: Khelafat Majlis has called for
the immediate reinstatement of army camps in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT),
saying stronger security measures are necessary to ensure public safety and
prevent further violence in the region.The party made the demand at its
quarterly central executive meeting, expressing deep concern over recent
tensions in Khagrachhari and Rangamati, including incidents affecting tourists
visiting Sajek, a popular tourist destination in the hills.According to the party leaders,
nearly 3,000 tourists had been stranded in Sajek amid escalating tensions and
clashes involving armed groups in the hills over the past several days.They alleged that when security
personnel moved to rescue the stranded tourists on Thursday, armed assailants
attacked members of the Army and police, leaving at least nine people, including
security personnel, injured.The party strongly condemned the
incident and called for immediate action against armed groups operating in the
Chittagong Hill Tracts. It also urged the authorities to restore security and
reinstate army camps to protect residents and visitors.The allegations and casualty
figures could not be independently verified from the information provided by
the party.The meeting also expressed anger
over the abnormal increases in fuel oil, cylinder gas and essential commodity
prices, calling on the government to bring prices within the purchasing
capacity of ordinary people.Party leaders said rising living
costs were placing additional pressure on households and urged the authorities
to take immediate measures to ease the burden on consumers.The demand comes amid public
concerns over the affordability of everyday necessities, including household
energy and food items.On constitutional matters,
Khelafat Majlis accused the government of undermining what it described as the
clear public mandate expressed in the recent referendum and the spirit of the
July mass uprising.The party alleged that the
government was attempting to preserve the controversial 1972 Constitution through
a unilateral constitutional amendment committee.Rejecting what it described as a
one-sided initiative, the party called for the formation of a Constitution
Reform Council comprising all political parties represented in parliament.It urged the government to
implement a comprehensive constitutional framework in accordance with the
referendum results, arguing that the reform process should reflect the people's
mandate and the aspirations associated with the July uprising.The meeting did not provide
further details on the proposed council's structure or the specific
constitutional provisions it wants to change.The quarterly central executive
meeting was held at 3:00pm at the party's central office in Paltan, Dhaka, with
Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Abdul Basit Azad in the chair. Secretary-General
Dr Ahmad Abdul Qader conducted the meeting.Among those present were
Naib-e-Ameers Maulana Sakhawat Hossain, Maulana Ahmad Ali Qasemi and Professor
Abdullah Farid, along with Professor Sirajul Haque and Joint
Secretaries-General Advocate Jahangir Hossain, Muhammad Muntasir Ali, ABM
Sirajul Mamun and Dr Mostafizur Rahman Faisal.Other central leaders and
office-bearers representing the party's organisational, financial, social
welfare, education, training, cultural, information, labour, youth and
agricultural affairs departments also attended.
The meeting discussed security in
the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the rising cost of living and constitutional
reform, placing these issues at the centre of the party's demands to the
government.