11-Party Alliance Announces Street Protests to Enforce Referendum Mandate
The alliance confirmed on Thursday, April 2, 2026, that a major demonstration and rally will be held this coming Saturday after the Asr prayers at the North Gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital. This escalation follows a dramatic walkout by opposition lawmakers during the sixth day of the inaugural session of the 13th National Parliament, signaling a deepening political rift over the government's handling of public mandates.
The opposition’s move to the streets comes after the Leader of the Opposition and Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, led a walkout from the parliamentary chambers at 5:45 PM on Wednesday. During a subsequent press briefing at the Parliament building, Dr. Rahman expressed profound disappointment and shock over the government's failure to issue the "July Charter Decree." He accused the administration of "misquoting" the opposition leader and ignoring the pre-election agreements made between the ruling and opposition parties regarding the referendum's execution. Dr. Rahman emphasized that the opposition cannot remain silent while the clear verdict of the people is being undervalued within the legislative body.
During the parliamentary session, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury urged the opposition members to remain in their seats, promising that their concerns would be addressed in upcoming adjournment motions. However, the opposition remained steadfast in their protest, asserting that the current parliamentary proceedings do not reflect the consensus reached before the polls. The 11-party alliance maintains that the government is intentionally delaying the implementation of the referendum results to consolidate power, a charge the ruling party has yet to formally address. Saturday’s planned rally is expected to be a significant show of strength as the opposition seeks to mobilize public support for their constitutional demands.
