National Citizen Party (NCP) southern region chief organiser Hasnat Abdullah on Sunday alleged that BNP leaders and activists who had fought for reforms for years have been “bought off” with positions and ministerial portfolios.
Speaking at the Parliament, Hasnat said the people would eventually judge those who had campaigned for reforms and hold them accountable.
“Those in BNP who have fought and struggled for reforms for decades have now been bought off with a chair, a position and a ministry,” he said.
Hasnat also criticised BNP’s stance on the referendum results, saying the party had accepted one outcome while rejecting another.
“There were two results in this election. They accepted one but did not accept the other. Their position is like standing in mud and water-half in the mud and half in the water,” he said.
He also referred to a remark that the price of potatoes was more important than the referendum, questioning whether the comment was being used to sideline fundamental reforms.
“He had said that the price of potatoes was more important than the referendum. So we do not know whether he rejected the first referendum to sidestep the fundamental reforms,” Hasnat said.
The NCP leader also questioned the government’s credibility, alleging that it had already lost public confidence.
“The government has already lost people’s trust. If the government does not keep its word and does not implement the referendum verdict, will it organise another referendum by spending public money?” he said.
Hasnat said the government should first implement the verdict delivered by the people before taking up any new initiative.
“First things first. The verdict that the people have given should be implemented first. If they do something else afterwards, then we will believe and have confidence that they will act with good intentions and in good faith,” he said.
He also voiced concern over the possibility of a new caretaker government formula, drawing a comparison with the caretaker government formed by the BNP in 2006.
“We are concerned that they may introduce a new formula similar to the caretaker government the BNP formed in 2006 and move towards a deceptive new arrangement,” he said.
Hasnat said the NCP had already proposed a formula for an interim caretaker government.
“We have proposed a formula for an interim caretaker government. Those of us who were members of the reform implementation committee put forward the proposal from our side under the leadership of then NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain,” he said.
