BNP has blamed the interim government and the National Consensus Commission (NCC) for betraying the nation and its people by creating a fresh political crisis through the exclusion of notes of dissent from the July National Charter.
“The crisis that has now emerged was created by the government,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Friday while addressing a programme at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
The event was organised by the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) to mark its 53rd founding anniversary.
The BNP spokesperson alleged that a certain group is desperately trying to foil the election.
He bitterly criticised Jamaat-e-Islami and several other parties for demanding that the referendum be held before the general election, urging them to respect the people’s demand for a fair vote.
Pointing to Jamaat, Fakhrul said, “They stood against the country during the Liberation War in 1971. I urge them not to oppose the election that the people want now.”
He alleged that the recommendations of the NCC, which were presented to the chief adviser, differed significantly from what had been agreed upon.
“There are significant differences between the signed July Charter and its implementation process. There has been deception against the people of the country by omitting the notes of dissent,” Fakhrul said, adding that this betrayal was unexpected.
“Despite having differences of opinion, we signed the July Charter. On the issues where we disagreed, we submitted notes of dissent. If we come to power through the vote, we will implement those. If not, we won’t,” he added.
Describing the BNP as a pro-reform political party, Fakhrul said there is no scope for holding a referendum before the national election.
“It has been made clear that the referendum and the parliamentary election will be held on the same day, with two ballots — one for the referendum and one for the national election,” he said.
Fakhrul said the BNP would form a national government with parties involved in the anti-fascist movement if it returns to power.
JSD President ASM Abdur Rob could not attend the event due to illness.
JSD Vice-President Tania Rob, who chaired the event, said the JSD was founded to protest against injustice.
“The party still holds that position firmly,” she said.
