Govt will fail if it ignores referendum verdict: Jamaat ameer

Highlights:

• Shafiqur says govt will fail if referendum verdict is ignored
• Warns continued disregard could trigger political confrontation
• Questions legality of parliamentary constitutional amendment committee
• Calls for state recognition of the 2024 July Uprising

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman today (18 July) warned that the government would also fail if it did not implement the outcome of the referendum, saying continued disregard for the people’s verdict could push the country towards political confrontation.

“We do not want to remain on the streets like this. We want to work together to build the country. But the way you are pushing us towards the streets,” he said while addressing the 11-party alliance’s divisional rally at Hemayet Uddin Eidgah Maidan in Barishal.

Shafiqur, also the opposition leader, alleged, “BNP had promised to implement every demand endorsed through the referendum if the majority voted in favour, but later abandoned that commitment after assuming power.”

“The ruling party had said if the majority of the people voted ‘Yes’ in the referendum, they would implement every demand of the referendum to the letter. We also said vote ‘Yes,’ and so did they. But when ‘Yes’ won, they came to power through whatever mechanism, and then they forgot the ‘Yes’,” he added.

Shafiqur also accused the government of backtracking on its reform agenda, saying constitutional reform had been the first point of its 31-point programme.

Questioning the legality of the parliamentary constitutional amendment committee, Shafiqur alleged that the government had merely renamed the body while continuing the same process.

“How much longer will you deceive the people? How much longer will you resort to trickery? You keep lying at every step. Be prepared for the consequences,” he said.

The Jamaat chief further alleged that the BNP-led government had retained ordinances introduced during the previous Awami League administration, describing the move as a betrayal of the people.

“A total of 133 ordinances were issued, and the very ordinances that gave birth to fascism have all been retained by the BNP. They say they will improve them and bring them back in a better form. Six months have passed, but where are those improvements?” he said.

Referring to the July Uprising, Shafiqur accused the government of attempting to diminish its significance, saying the events of 1971 and 2024 should each be honoured in their own historical context.

“We will not allow 2024 to be erased. The heroes of 2024, whether martyrs or survivors, must be given proper state recognition,” he said.