Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh has demanded that a referendum be held before the upcoming national election, even if it cannot be organised in November, citing the need to give legal backing to the July Charter.

A Jamaat delegation met Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission office in Agargaon on Wednesday.

After the meeting, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad told reporters that the party would launch a movement if the referendum is not conducted before the national election.

The party had previously insisted on holding the referendum in November. However, with five days of the month already passed, preparations for the referendum are yet to begin, according to the Election Commission.

Azad, a former lawmaker, said the referendum must be held before the national election even if it cannot be conducted in November, as it would strengthen the July Charter order. He noted that holding the referendum on the same day as the national election could create disorder and reduce voter turnout for the referendum.

The referendum cannot be held on the day of the national election, as public attention will be on the parliamentary vote. There is no scope to fall into anyone’s trap on that day,” he added.

He also said the party would continue its movement until its demand for the referendum is met.