BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has said constitutional amendments or formulation of laws cannot be carried out through a referendum, and that forming a national parliament is essential before initiating such processes.
Speaking at a programme titled “Rising violence and disrespect against women: An aware women’s society prepared to resist”, he said the BNP welcomes Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’ announcement to hold the next national election and the referendum on implementing the July National Charter on the same day.
Salahuddin made the remarks on Friday during a silent march and rally organised by the Women and Child Rights Forum in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh in the capital.
He said the BNP remains committed to the pledges made under the July National Charter and added that any proposal forced upon the people will ultimately be judged by the people themselves.
Salahuddin emphasised that no imposed law or order can interfere with the sovereignty of Parliament. “To ensure that the sovereignty of Bangladesh’s National Parliament is not undermined, we will not allow any imposed law, order or coercive proposal to interfere with it,” he said.
He added that the National Parliament is the country’s only sovereign house and its discussions and proceedings cannot be challenged in court. “There can be no imposed proposal dictating the sovereignty of Parliament,” he said.
Reaffirming that the BNP will remain firm in safeguarding Parliament’s authority, Salahuddin said no effort to interfere with its powers will be tolerated. “We do not want the sovereignty of Bangladesh’s National Parliament to be diminished in any way,” he added.
He also accused a political group of using religion as a business tool, saying their misuse is contributing to the oppression of women.
Criticising the proposal to reduce women’s working hours, he said such a move would only reduce their employment opportunities. “There is an inverse relationship between reducing working hours and employment,” he said.
Women and Child Rights Forum convener and BNP Standing Committee member Selima Rahman presided over the rally. She said violence against women had worsened again despite hopes of change after the July uprising.
The rally was conducted by Forum member secretary Nipun Roy Chowdhury, who said women across the country would rise if any crisis emerged concerning their rights.
Speakers included Mehrin Islam Khan of Jahangirnagar University; Public Service Commission member Chowdhury Sayema Ferdous; former MP Shirin Sultana; Nilufar Chowdhury Moni; Bilkis Islam; Advocate Shamima Sultana Dipti of the Nationalist Lawyers’ Forum; Sanjida Islam Tuli of Mayer Dak; and Chhatra Dal leaders Rehana Akhter Shirin, Monsura Alam and Ducsu’s Sanjida Ahmed Tuli.
