Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Professor Ali Riaz addressed the divisional level 'Imam Conference' organized by the Islamic Foundation at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed Stadium in Rangpur today. Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, Jan 14, 2026 (BSS) - Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser (Adviser 
rank) and Chief Coordinator of Public Awareness Campaign Activities related 
to Referendum Professor Ali Riaz has urged people to remain in favor of 'Yes' 
in the referendum.

"Then the July Charter will be implemented, the old system will be changed 
and the country will change to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the 
people," he said.
 
He said this while addressing the divisional level 'Imam Conference' 
organized by the Islamic Foundation at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed Stadium to 
promote the referendum and motivate voters Rangpur on Wednesday afternoon as 
the chief guest. 
 
Ali Riaz said that although the July National Charter was printed in black 
ink, it was written in the blood of the July martyrs. 

"If we remember this, the July Charter will not be forgotten. That is why a 
referendum is being organized to implement the July Charter that has been 
made on the basis of the consensus of political parties," he said. 
 
He said, "What kind of Bangladesh do we want in the future? If we want a 
changed Bangladesh, a new Bangladesh for the next generation, then people 
should remain in favor of 'Yes' in this referendum."
 
If the 'Yes' wins in the referendum, the fascist government will not return 
to the country and fascism will not be created again. If fascism is not 
created, people's rights will not be taken away again. 

The people of Bangladesh can change themselves just as they were able to 
remove the fascists to start a new Bangladesh. The people will determine the 
method of how Bangladesh will run in the future. 

Therefore, if the July Charter is implemented, no one will be able to become 
the Prime Minister more than twice in the country, and there will be no one-
sidedness in all the administrative activities of the government. 

"The kind of Bangladesh that will be handed over to the youth in the future 
will be decided by this 'Yes' and 'No' vote. If the 'yes' vote wins, the 
youth will get a new and discrimination-free Bangladesh," he said.
 
Professor Ali Riaz said that referendums were organized twice in the past 
during the time of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and General Hussein 
Muhammad Ershad when the question in those referendums was whether there was 
trust in them or not.
 
"But this time the referendum has been organized to implement the July 
Charter," he said. 

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser (Senior Secretary rank) Monir Haider, 
Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Kamal Uddin, Rangpur 
Divisional Commissioner Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Range DIG Aminul Islam and 
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Majid Ali spoke as special guests. 

Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Enamul Ahsan delivered the welcome 
speech. 

Moulana Mohammad Ali Sarkar, Khatib of Rangpur Carmichael College Jam-e-
Mosque, presided over the conference. 

Noted Islamic scholar and Khatib of Rangpur Keramotia Jam-e-Mosque Moulana 
Bayezid Hussaine, Moulana Azgar Ali and Moulana Nazrul Islam Siddiqui also 
spoke. 

Imams and Khatibs from eight districts of Rangpur division were present at 
the conference. 

Later, Professor Ali Riaz participated in a special divisional level exchange 
of views with officials of all eight districts of Rangpur division at the 
same place to promote the referendum and motivate voters.