Desk Report: Khelafat Majlis has expressed deep concern over rising fuel, bottled gas, electricity and essential commodity prices, saying repeated price hikes have placed an unbearable burden on ordinary people and made it increasingly difficult for them to meet their daily needs.

At its monthly central executive meeting in Dhaka on Wednesday evening, the Islamic political party demanded the immediate withdrawal of increased fuel prices and called on the government to bring energy costs and essential commodity prices within the purchasing capacity of the general public.

The party`s leaders alleged that successive increases in fuel, gas and electricity prices over the past six months had further aggravated the cost-of-living crisis. They also pointed to rising bus fares and another round of increases in commodity prices and inflation, warning that the situation was pushing ordinary citizens towards severe financial hardship.

"The government has pushed people`s lives towards a critical situation by increasing the prices of fuel and bottled gas," the leaders said, according to a party statement.

They urged the government to take immediate measures to ease the financial pressure on households and ensure that essential goods and services remain affordable.

The meeting also expressed concern over what the party described as a recent rise in the killing, rape and abuse of children and adolescents.

Demanding stronger law enforcement, Khelafat Majlis called for a zero-tolerance policy against juvenile gangs, drug suppliers and criminal groups.

The leaders stressed the need for effective action to protect children and adolescents from violence and abuse, calling on the authorities to strengthen efforts to maintain public safety and prevent criminal activities.

Beyond economic and law-and-order concerns, the meeting criticised the government`s approach to constitutional reform, accusing it of disregarding what the party described as the clear public verdict in the previous referendum and the spirit of the July mass uprising.

The leaders alleged that the government was attempting to preserve the controversial 1972 Constitution through what they termed a unilateral constitutional amendment committee.

They also questioned the government`s reported move towards holding another referendum, arguing that the earlier public mandate should be implemented rather than revisited.

"We urge the government to implement the people`s verdict. Instead of engaging in what we consider political theatrics, it should immediately establish a Constitution Reform Council comprising all political parties represented in parliament," the party leaders said.

They called for a comprehensive constitutional reform framework in line with the public mandate, arguing that the process should involve parliamentary political parties rather than proceed through a unilateral initiative.

The party`s position reflects its broader demand for an inclusive political process in which constitutional changes are guided by public opinion and participation from across the political spectrum.

The monthly central executive meeting was held at 7:00pm on Wednesday at the party`s central office in Paltan, Dhaka.

The meeting was chaired by Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Ahmad Ali Qasemi and conducted by Secretary-General Dr Ahmad Abdul Qader.

Among those attending were Nayeb-e-Ameer Professor Abdullah Farid; Joint Secretaries-General Advocate Jahangir Hossain and Professor Md Abdul Jalil; Organising Secretary Advocate Mizanur Rahman; Professor Kazi Minhajul Alam; Training Secretary Zahirul Islam; Cultural Secretary Maulana Ruhul Amin Sadi; Publicity and Information Secretary Engineer Abdul Hafiz Khasru; Youth Affairs Secretary Tawhidul Islam Tuhin; Dr Abdur Razzaq Asad; Khandaker Shahabuddin Ahmed; Mufti Abdul Haque Amini; Zillur Rahman; Professor Maulana Azizul Haque; Maulana Saifuddin Ahmad Khandaker; and Maulana Faruk Ahmad Bhuiyan.

The meeting concluded with calls for immediate relief from rising living costs, stronger measures to protect children and adolescents, and a more inclusive approach to constitutional reform.

The demands come amid continuing public concerns over the affordability of essential goods and services, public security and the country`s constitutional reform process.