BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said there is no scope for holding a referendum before the national election.
Speaking at a discussion marking the 53rd founding anniversary of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) at the National Press Club on Friday, he said a section is trying to delay or derail the upcoming national election by misleading the public through unnecessary debate over the referendum issue.
“I want to make it clear – we want an election, and we will participate in it. We agree with the chief adviser’s announcement that the election will be held in February 2026 under the interim government,” he said.
He added that the proposal for holding a referendum before the election is not possible now. “We have already said the referendum will take place on election day, alongside the national election. One will be for parliament, the other for the referendum,” he said.
Referring to Jamaat-e-Islami and their like-minded parties demanding a pre-election referendum, Fakhrul said, “Those who are creating confusion now have a history of misleading people. In 1971, they opposed the Liberation War and betrayed the nation.
“I urge them not to repeat that mistake. The people of this country never forgive betrayal.”
He called on the agitating parties to join the election process instead. “Let the people’s will be reflected through voting. We want a people’s government through an election acceptable to all,” he said.
The BNP leader said his party aims to form a national government after the election. “We will form a national government with our allies with whom we have struggled for 17 years,” he said.
Expressing concern over the illness of JSD President ASM Abdur Rob, Fakhrul prayed for his speedy recovery and said reforms in the country’s political and administrative systems have always come through BNP’s initiatives.
“Every major reform in Bangladesh came through BNP’s hands. We proposed 31 reform points and agreed to implement them if we return to power,” he said.
The discussion was presided over by JSD Vice President Tania Rob. Among others, Nagorik Oikkyo President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Gono Forum Acting President Subrata Chowdhury, Bhasani Janashakti Party’s Sheikh Rafiqul Islam Babu, AB Party President Mojibur Rahman Monju, and JSD General Secretary Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan also spoke at the event.
