Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has said that declaring the referendum verdict illegal would raise questions over the legitimacy of the current government and the National Parliament.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a public meeting organised by Dhaka City North Jamaat at Phalpatti area in Mirpur-10 on Thursday afternoon.
The 11-party alliance organised the rally demanding implementation of the referendum verdict in the spirit of the July mass uprising and justice for the July massacre and crimes against humanity.
Shafiqur alleged that the government was now attempting to declare the referendum verdict illegal, despite Prime Minister and other top government leaders campaigning in favour of a ‘Yes’ vote.
“Therefore, there is no scope to call the referendum illegal now,” he said.
He said if the referendum itself was illegal, the government and Parliament formed on the basis of that referendum could not remain legitimate.
“Even if the meat is halal, there is no possibility that the broth can be haram. So, if the referendum is haram, the government is also haram. And if the government is haram, there is no legitimate government in the country,” he said.
The Jamaat chief said nothing could be above the opinion of the people and that respecting the people’s decision was the government’s constitutional and moral responsibility. He called on the government to take effective steps to implement the July Charter immediately without any delay or excuses.
Shafiqur also said the current government and Parliament were the outcome of the July Revolution and should show proper respect and gratitude towards the movement.
He demanded the speedy completion of trials over the July massacre, national hero status for the martyrs, advanced medical treatment and rehabilitation for the injured, and state honours for the families of those killed.
Describing the July movement as a historic mass uprising, he said it was driven by the aspiration to establish a discrimination-free and justice-based state. He said the movement’s main goal was to build a Bangladesh free from killings, enforced disappearances, terrorism and anarchy.
Warning the government, Shafiqur said it would have to pay a political price if it ignored the verdict given by the people.
The meeting was chaired by Mohammad Selim Uddin, Ameer of Dhaka City North Jamaat and the party’s mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). It was moderated by Mahfuzur Rahman, assistant secretary of Dhaka City North Jamaat.
Among the speakers were Dhaka-14 MP Mir Ahmed Bin Qasem Arman, Dhaka-16 MP Abdul Baten, Central Working Committee member Harun Or Rashid Khan, and Dhaka City North Jamaat Naib-e-Ameer Abdur Rahman Musa.
Others who addressed the gathering included Central Majlis-E-Shura members Fakhruddin Manik and Yasin Arafat, former president of Islami Chhatra Shibir Zahidul Islam, Dhaka City West Chhatra Shibir President Muhibullah Al Hossaini, Private University Chhatra Shibir President Shanto Talukder, and the fathers of July martyrs Mahfuzur Rahman and Mosharraf Hossain.
