No scope for referendum before national poll: Fakhrul

Speaking at a discussion, he also blamed the current interim government for creating the ongoing political crisis, saying that the National Consensus Commission has betrayed the people by breaking the trust placed in it.

“We want to make it very clear that there is no scope to hold a referendum before the national election. We have already said that the referendum will be held on the same day as the election. There will be two ballots — one for the referendum and another for the national parliamentary election. So, I don’t think there should be any disagreement on this matter,” the BNP leader said.

Fakhrul said they will take part in the election to be held in February next year as per the announcement of Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus. “But a certain quarter is trying to derail and delay the election by spreading confusion in various ways,” he added.

The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob) organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club marking its 53rd founding anniversary.

Fakhrul urged the political parties who took to the streets demanding a referendum to stop their agitation and refrain from creating chaos. “Those who are creating chaos on the streets should stop confusing the public. In the past, you opposed the independence of Pakistan’s provinces, and in 1971, you opposed our Liberation War. Please don’t now oppose the election the people want.

The BNP leader warned that the people of Bangladesh never forgive those who betray the nation. “So, I urge you — step back and take part in the election. Let the people’s desires and opinions be established through the polls.”

He said their party wants a people’s government to be formed through this election so that the country can overcome the crisis. “We must move forward in that direction.”

“The crisis we are facing today has actually been created by the present interim government,” Fakhrul said.

He said the reform commissions and the National Consensus Commission formed by the government held discussions for over a year on different issues and reached consensus on many points. “On a few issues, we had differences and gave notes of dissent… but we all signed the main charter after reaching consensus,” Fakhrul said.

He said the parties agreed that issues of disagreement would be included in their respective election manifestos. “If people vote for us, we will bring those reforms through Parliament. If not, those issues will naturally be dropped.”

The BNP leader recalled that when the final charter was signed amid rain on 17 October, the document later presented to the Chief Adviser did not reflect all their opinions. “The notes of dissent we submitted were not mentioned. That is why a bridge of trust has been broken. Instead of keeping the trust we placed in them, they have betrayed it and deceived the people. We never expected this from them,” he said.

Fakhrul strongly rejected the allegation that BNP opposes reform. “BNP was born through reform in 1979 under Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, who brought back multi-party democracy from one-party rule. He restored people’s fundamental rights and reopened all closed newspapers and institutions.”

He also said that later, under Khaleda Zia’s leadership, the country returned from a presidential to a parliamentary form of government and introduced the caretaker government system that ensured four acceptable elections. “So, those who say BNP is against reform are misleading the nation.”

Fakhrul said BNP has always supported reform, referring to the party’s Vision 2030 and its 31-point reform agenda. “We believe in reform, we work for reform, and we have proved it through action, reports UNB. 

He said BNP wants to form a national government after the election along with its long-time allies who fought together for the past 17 years against the autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina. “We have made it very clear that we want to form a national government after the election to rebuild the country together.”