TDS Desk:

Ali Riaz, chief coordinator for public awareness campaigns related to the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the referendum, said the July National Charter was written “in exchange for blood and lives.”

The special assistant to the chief adviser said a referendum was being organized to understand the people’s decision on the future course outlined in the July Charter.

“A referendum is being organized to know the people’s decision on the future path shown in the July Charter. I hope we will be successful in this effort. We will achieve success and will definitely be able to move Bangladesh towards a new Bangladesh,” he said.

Ali Riaz made the remarks at a view-exchange and imam conference with divisional officials of Dhaka on the referendum, held at the BIAM Foundation Auditorium in Eskaton in the capital on Saturday afternoon.

Serving also as vice-chairman of the National Consensus Commission, Ali Riaz said, “The July National Charter, which you see printed in black letters, is actually written in drops of blood and lives.”

“Whenever I open the July Charter, I hear the cries of my mother and the sighs of my brothers. Do you know why? This July National Charter was created from the cries of families of people who have been missing for more than 16 years. It was written with the daily tears of mothers who lost their children,” he said.

He added that the July Charter was created in exchange for the lives of young students, street workers, small business owners and people from different walks of life.

Putting this question before ourselves, let us ask the people and our conscience: am I with the path shown by this charter written in blood, or am I not? This is a matter of ‘yes’ or ‘no’, he said.

Commenting that the people of the country stand behind the charter, Ali Riaz said everyone is, in fact, with it.

“Let us tell everyone that we are all with it. The key to the country is in your hands; it has been given to everyone. Now you must make the decision. The opportunity to decide belongs to all. Your responsibility is to explain it to everyone, ensure participation, and implement the July Charter accordingly,” he added.

The views exchange meeting was chaired by Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury.