Prof Ali Riaz urges NGOs to mobilize public support for referendum ensuring democracy and transparency. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Jan 8, 2026 (BSS)- Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Professor Ali Riaz today said the upcoming referendum, if it passed, will prevent the ways of the future governments to be fascist one.

He said this while speaking as the main discussant at a workshop titled 'Upcoming Referendum and What NGOs Should Do' at the NGO Affairs Bureau conference room in Dhaka.

Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider and Secretary of SHUJAN (Citizens for Good Governance) Dr Badiul Alam Majumder were present as special discussants at the meeting moderated by Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau Md. Daud Miah.

Representatives of about 450 local and international NGOs participated in the workshop.

Prof Ali Riaz, chief coordinator of the government's campaign for the upcoming referendum, also said those who run the country get the opportunity to become fascists because of the existing flawed constitutional and state structure.
 
He said they must stop this path of becoming fascists by winning the "yes" vote in the upcoming referendum.

Stating that there is no room for doubt about what or why a referendum is, Prof Ali Riaz said the referendum will be like any other general election, but through the referendum the people will decide how the future of Bangladesh will run. 

In the upcoming elections, all voters will get two ballots at the polling stations, of which the ballot for the election of the people's representatives will be white and the ballot for the referendum will be coloured, he said.

Mentioning that it is the responsibility of all to create public opinion and ensure the participation of all on the referendum, he said those who scarified their lives during the July Uprising and victimised during the previous government’s regime have given them this responsibility through their sacrifice.

The special assistant said, "One of our biggest crises is the lack of transparency and accountability at all levels of the state." 

He said, "If the July National Charter is implemented through the consent of the people through referendum, the path to ensuring transparency in all institutions of the state will be easier."

Prof Ali Riaz recalled the contribution of NGOs and development workers to the reconstruction of independent Bangladesh, the welfare of the poor, and mitigating all natural disasters and crises.

"People trust you, so you can play an important role in making the marginalised people aware of the referendum," he told NGO workers.

Monir Haider said during the Pakistani regime, the then ruling class took away democratic rights of people. 

Stating that the freedom fighters had a dream of a country where the rights of citizens would be ensured, he said, “If we can make the desired reforms through a referendum, then the path to building a safe, beautiful democratic Bangladesh will be smooth for the next generation.” 

Otherwise, he mentioned, the country will return to the situation like that was before August 5, 2024.

Monir Haider said if the people give ‘Yes’ vote for the reforms, then an effective parliamentary system will be established, a balance of power will come among state institutions, accountability and transparency in all aspects of running the country will increase along with the reform and decentralization of the judiciary.

Badiul Alam Majumdar, also a former member of the National Consensus Commission, made a presentation titled ‘What is a Referendum and Why?’ at the meeting and discussed the issues related to reforms and referendums outlined in the July National Charter.