Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Manir has mentioned that the current head of government has been presented with a historic opportunity to establish themselves as a statesman by rising above party politics.
He said the true test of leadership lies in accepting the public opinion expressed through a referendum, adding that the head of government must now decide whether to be a statesman or a party leader.
Shishir Manir made these comments on Saturday at a national seminar titled “Referendum and Sovereign Power of People,” organised by “Gonovote Bastobayon Nagarik Forum” at Abdus Salam Hall of National Press Club.
The seminar featured detailed discussions on “Moral and Constitutional Basis of Referendums in the Light of Observations of the High Court.”
“Accepting the truth reveals a leader’s open heart,” Shishir Manir said. “The current head of government has a beautiful opportunity to become a statesman. Now they will decide whether they will be a statesman or a party leader,” he also said.
He added that accepting whatever the people have declared is precisely what ought to happen.
Regarding the constitutional basis, Shishir Manir cited Article 7 of the Constitution, highlighting that all powers of the republic belong to the people, and the Constitution is an expression of public’s will.
He argued that the verdict given by the people in a referendum must be considered in the light of constitutional principles.
Speaking at the seminar, Supreme Court lawyer and former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tajul Islam, criticised the government over the implementation of the “July Charter.”
He said, “In the July Charter, you are creating differences in areas of basic aspiration and reform. Verbally, you say you are implementing it letter by letter, yet on every page, you deny it. This is self-contradiction and foolishness.”
Tajul said basic constitutional reform is essential to do justice to the aspirations of the July mass uprising. “The Constitution must definitely be drafted anew, for which the people gave their verdict,” he added.
He further questioned: “The people are saying, ‘I want to change the constitution.’ Article 7 says the manifestation of the people’s will is the constitution. Therefore, my expression is a new constitution. Where did you bring the 1972 constitution from in between?.”
He alleged that instead of implementing the referendum’s verdict, the government is spinning within the old constitutional framework, adding: “The intellect of spinning within the constitution belongs to Awami League. Why are you taking the responsibility of implementing Awami League’s project?.”
AB Party’s Barrister Fuad issued a warning to BNP, saying, “This is your last political opportunity.” He mentioned that if the BNP fails to meet public expectations by repeating past mistakes, its political future could face a crisis.
Former Press Secretary of Interim Government Shafiqul Alam said, “Through the July movement, the people of Bangladesh have reclaimed their sovereign power.”
He alleged that attempts are being made in various ways to question the events of July and referendum process, adding that the events of 5 August were the consequence of long-accumulated political and social crises.
Former diplomat Saquib Ali said the economic crisis has also brought the necessity of basic reforms to the forefront. He said, “The government has no financial space or foreign exchange. The government cannot solve the energy crisis.”
He further alleged, “Awami League and BNP run on corruption. Keeping the old structure in place with only limited correction will not lead to real reform”.
The seminar was also addressed by Barrister Tanim Hossain Shawon, Tajnuva Jabeen, Ruby Amatullah, Arif Sohel, Nayeem Ahmad, and Syed Hasibuddin Hussain.
It was chaired by political scientist Dr Dilara Choudhury and moderated by Fahim Mashroor, the convenor of the forum.
