Dhaka, Jan 08 (V7N) — Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor, Professor Ali Riaz, has said the upcoming referendum is being held to ensure that Bangladesh never returns to a fascist system. He made the statement while speaking as the chief guest at a virtual meeting of around 17,000 officials and field-level workers of the Agriculture Department on Wednesday.

The meeting was organized via the online platform Zoom to provide guidance on the referendum. Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian presided over the event, while Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor Monir Haider attended as a special guest. Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and officers and field workers of all departments and organizations under it joined the meeting virtually.

Professor Ali Riaz said this opportunity to hold a referendum would not come again in the next five to ten years. “Everyone must work together to utilize this opportunity to decide how Bangladesh will be governed in the future,” he said.

He noted that the Ministry of Agriculture is one of the few ministries in the country with manpower reaching the upazila, union, and village levels. This, he said, has created a unique opportunity to raise public awareness about the referendum through direct communication with people at the grassroots.

As the chief coordinator of the public awareness campaign related to the referendum, Prof Riaz recalled that thousands of people had lost their lives during the 2024 uprising and throughout the struggles of the past 16 years. He said the sacrifices of those martyrs had placed a responsibility on the nation to ensure that the country does not return to its previous situation.

Addressing agriculture officials, he urged them to present the referendum to the public in simple and understandable language. He advised explaining it as a straightforward yes-or-no vote and emphasized the need to clearly outline the changes that would result from the referendum.

Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor Monir Haider said he envisioned a healthy, beautiful, and democratic Bangladesh for future generations. He observed that despite this being a simple aspiration, significant progress had not been achieved over the past 54 years.

He further said that the July uprising had made it evident that major reforms of the governance and constitutional systems are necessary. Urging voluntary participation in the referendum, Monir Haider said such engagement is essential to prevent the return of a fascist system in the future. He also presented in detail the key points of a leaflet prepared to build public opinion in favor of the referendum.

Secretary Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian said various initiatives have already been undertaken to raise public awareness about the referendum. These include installing drop-down banners, preparing and distributing leaflets, broadcasting messages through mobile vans of the Agricultural Information Service and regional radio centers, and organizing meetings and gatherings in project areas.

He added that the Agriculture Department’s 24-hour hotline service will also be used to disseminate information and support public awareness regarding the referendum.

END/SMA/AJ