‘Yes’ Vote Must Not Be Allowed to Win: Mujahidul Islam Selim

Bangladesh Communist Party (CPB) Presidium Member Mujahidul Islam Selim on Tuesday said that the upcoming referendum scheduled for February 12 must not be allowed to result in a victory for the “Yes” vote, describing the process as unnecessary and misleading.
Speaking at a national roundtable discussion titled “The 13th National Parliamentary Election and Indigenous Peoples’ Expectations in Inclusive Policymaking” at The Daily Star Conference Hall in Dhaka, Selim claimed that those advocating for a “Yes” vote had already lost public confidence.
“The ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ vote itself is deceptive. Under no circumstances should the ‘Yes’ vote be allowed to win,” he said, alleging that the administration was being directed to use public funds and state power to influence the outcome.
Selim further argued that if the issue were genuinely left to the people, it would not go in favour of the “Yes” camp. He also called on indigenous communities from both hill tracts and plains to raise their voices more strongly for their rights, noting that their historical marginalisation stems largely from weak representation.
Referring to the post-uprising political environment, Selim said that despite promises of a new political order, inequality persists at every level of society. He warned that anti-liberation forces were using the language of reform to push the country backwards.
At the event, BASD Co-General Secretary Rajequzzaman Ratan said indigenous people in Bangladesh number more than three million, yet continue to face fear and intimidation during elections. He criticised constitutional weaknesses and accused the state of repeatedly failing to protect citizens’ rights.
Garment workers’ leader and Dhaka-12 parliamentary candidate Taslima Akhter said Bangladesh is not a mono-ethnic state, yet the constitution fails to recognise its diverse ethnic communities. She pointed out that despite indigenous peoples’ participation in all major movements—from independence to the 2024 mass uprising—their history and rights remain largely ignored.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Sara Hossain said Bangladesh’s human rights situation has further deteriorated since the July movement. She highlighted ongoing repression against indigenous peoples in both the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the plains, warning against attempts to undermine the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord and criticising the ineffective role of the National Human Rights Commission.
The keynote paper, presented by Satej Chakma, outlined six key demands from indigenous communities, including constitutional recognition of indigenous identity, land rights reforms, full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord, reinstatement of job quotas, reserved parliamentary seats, and primary education in indigenous mother tongues.
The discussion was organised by the Bangladesh Indigenous Youth Forum and chaired by its President Tony Chiran, with participation from indigenous leaders, human rights activists, and youth representatives.