Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman has accused the government of pushing the opposition onto the streets by rejecting what he described as the people’s verdict in a referendum.
“Within just seven months, the government has taken a position against the people’s verdict. By rejecting the referendum verdict, the government has deceived the nation.”
“We wanted a solution from within parliament, but the government itself has pushed the opposition onto the streets,” he said at a view- exchange meeting with journalists at the Sylhet Circuit House on Thursday evening (24 September).
Shafiqur said the opposition alliance’s ongoing movement was peaceful and based on “reasonable and public demands”.
“Will the government only expect responsible behaviour from the opposition? Can’t the nation expect responsible behaviour from the government too?” he said, adding that the government could not avoid responsibility for prolonging the national crisis.
Criticising what he described as contradictory statements by ministers, the Jamaat chief said different ministers were giving different positions on issues including fuel and electricity, creating confusion among the public.
He also criticised the government’s handling of local government elections, saying the Election Commission was described as independent while the government was deciding the election schedule.
On the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, Shafiqur said ministers had given different deadlines for completion, with some saying 2028 and others 2029.
Commenting on the impact of the recent fuel price hike, he said transport fares had already increased, and commodity prices had begun rising.
He also criticised the government’s handling of the power and fuel crisis, saying Jamaat’s expert team had submitted proposals but the government had not given them importance.
On the Shahjalal Mazar donation management, he proposed a tripartite dialogue involving the government, shrine authorities, and representatives of different professions in Sylhet.
He also called for steps to launch infrastructure and academic activities at Sylhet Medical University, stronger measures to prevent measles deaths, and greater international efforts, including support from India and China, to resolve the Rohingya crisis.
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