Charter reform necessary too to hold election: Sarjis

July Martyrs’ Memorial Foundation’s general secretary Sarjis Alam on Saturday stressed that reforms to the constitution are necessary, too, to hold the next general election.

He said this in reply to queries from the journalists at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Sylhet after cheque distribution among the family members of those who were killed during the July-August movement.

Sarjis said Bangladesh’s constitution could not the give the countrymen a people’s government for the last 56 years and protect their constitutional rights. “It is essential to reform the constitution, too.”

He said the political parties come to power after every five years with big manifestoes but forget it soon.

“It is not necessary to go to the polls after reforming everything. Rather election should be held after reforms to the election-related institutions within a rational period. Otherwise, we will go back to the same place.” 

Saying some 2,000 people did not sacrifice their lives and the mass uprising did not happen only for holding an election, Sarjis emphasised reforming the Election Commission which was, he said, most corrupt institution. 

“We cannot anyway expect a fair election if this Election Commission is not reformed.”

This upheaval did not occur by some people, political organisations could not shake the fascist Awami League government a bit and Sheikh Hasina also fled the country for a few people, Sarjis said.

“Only when the entire student community and the people took to the streets shoulder-to-shoulder, the mass uprising happened and Sheikh Hasina had to flee. This interim government is of the students and the people. So everyone should help it,” he added.

Ahmed Jamil/MSU/NMA