MamunulAllama Mamunul Haque, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and a senior leader associated with Hefazat-e-Islam, warned that the public would return to the streets if the government continued to ignore the outcome of the recent referendum and failed to implement constitutional reforms.
Speaking as chief guest at a civic gathering organized by the party’s Kamrangirchar Thana branch at Kholamora Ghat (Tempo Stand) in the capital on Tuesday afternoon, Haque criticized rising prices of oil, gas and electricity, the decline of the productive sector, and what he described as deteriorating law and order.
He said Bangladesh’s economy was nearing collapse as industrial output contracted while fixed costs remained unchanged, driving up the production cost of goods. Haque questioned the role of those responsible for the energy sector, expressing concern that some actors were advancing the interests of a neighboring country rather than protecting national interests. He warned that this could damage the garment industry and the country’s foreign-exchange earning capacity.
On governance, Haque argued that state reform was essential to curb syndicates and irregularities, but claimed the government was obstructing constitutional changes. He called for a balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister instead of concentrating authority in one individual, and demanded the formation of a judicial commission under the Chief Justice to safeguard the independence of the judiciary. He further insisted that the police must serve the public rather than any political party and called for an independent Public Service Commission to ensure merit-based, non-partisan appointments.
Referring to the period after the July Revolution, Haque said people had expected justice but were now questioning the system following the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi and the alleged flight of the perpetrators. He demanded fair trials for all killings and urged the government to pursue diplomatic efforts with India to bring former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh to face justice.
Haque accused the BNP-led government of backtracking on its earlier 31-point commitment to constitutional reform after assuming power. He stated that if the referendum verdict—reflecting the will of 70 percent of voters—and the public demand for reform were disregarded, citizens would again be forced onto the streets. He declared that Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis would continue its movement until those demands were met.
On the upcoming local government elections, Haque announced that the party was fielding candidates to protect public rights and dignity. He named Hafiz Saiduzzaman Shaheen as the Khelafat Majlis nominee for Ward 55 of Kamrangirchar and handed him over to local residents, pledging that the candidate would work for the area’s interests if elected. He also sought support for the party’s Dhaka South City Corporation mayoral candidate, central Naib-e-Amir Maulana Mahbubul Haque.
The meeting was presided over by Mufti Khairuzzaman Huzaifi, president of the Kamrangirchar Thana branch, and conducted by Maulana Kamruzzaman Rahmani. Several central and local leaders of Khelafat Majlis attended as special guests.