BNP firm on election-day referendum

Bangla Press Desk:   The BNP has reiterated its firm stance that the proposed referendum must be held on the same day as the upcoming national election, rejecting any move to organise it beforehand.

“There is no chance of holding the referendum before the national election,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said while addressing a programme at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka on Friday.

The referendum will take place on the same day as the national election with two ballot papers – one for the referendum and another for the parliamentary election, he said during the discussion marking the 53rd founding anniversary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD).              

The BNP will implement the recommendations made in the July Charter if it comes to power in the next general election, likely to be held in early February next year, said Fakhrul.

The countrymen want the national election in February next year in line with the announcement of the chief adviser, but a certain political party wants to hinder it on various pretexts, he said.

“You opposed the country’s Liberation in 1971. Please, don’t oppose the people’s much-desired election,” Fakhrul said, referring to the recent street protest of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami demanding the referendum in November.

Clearing his party’s post-polls stance, he said that the unresolved issues of the July National Charter will be brought to the forefront through a parliamentary procedure to ensure a preferred change if the BNP is voted to power.

The country’s political parties have reached a consensus following a series of discussions over a year and at last, they signed the charter in pouring rain on 17 October, but all the efforts went in vain, he said.

It is not the country’s political parties, but the government and the National Consensus Commission that have pushed the country towards the verge of political crisis, he said.

Earlier, on 28 October, the National Consensus Commission submitted its final recommendations for implementing the July National Charter to the chief adviser, proposing a referendum either before or on the day of the national election.

Hours after submitting the recommendations, BNP Standing Committee Member Ameer Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury said their party remains firm that the referendum and the national election will be held on the election day using two separate ballots.

‘Govt, NCC betray the nation’

Fakhrul accused the interim government and the National Consensus Commission of betraying the nation and deceiving the people by breaking the trust they placed in them.

The recommendations the National Consensus Commission (NCC) submitted to the chief adviser were significantly changed, ignoring the notes of dissent it had promised to include, he said.

“By doing so, both the consensus commission and the government betray the trust placed in them and deceive the people,” said the BNP leader during the [sentence incomplete – to be completed or removed].

Claiming that the BNP is a pro-reform political party, Fakhrul said his party signed the July National Charter with notes of dissent despite having differences of opinion, but a section of people is spreading lies branding the party as anti-reform.

He also blamed the people involved in preparing the final recommendations of the July National Charter for plunging the country into a fresh crisis by keeping a provision to hold the referendum before the national election.

The BNP will form a national government with all its political partners if the party comes to power in the next general election, Fakhrul pledged.

Later, while addressing a programme at the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh, in Dhaka, Fakhrul called upon the government to provide a proper solution to the problem arising over the July National Charter’s recommendations, including a referendum.

“What happened is in the past and now my request to the government is that ‘please, be kind enough to address the issues so that we can all proceed towards the national election together,’” he said during the programme held marking the 5th Conference of Ganosanhati Andolan.

“As we stood by you in the past, we will stand by you in the future. I believe the crisis created over the referendum will be resolved with your prudent leadership,” he said, pointing his finger at the chief adviser.

Stressing the need for unity, Fakhrul said the persistent conspiracies against the country and people must be resisted collectively.

“We may belong to different parties and have different opinions and approaches, but when it comes to the national interest, we all must remain united,” said the BNP leader.

Chief Coordinator of Ganosanhati Andolan Zonayed Saki presided over the event.

General Secretary of the Biplobi Workers Party Saiful Haque, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju and Nagarik Oikya President Mahamudur Rahman Manna, among others, delivered speeches at the event.

BP/SP