National Citizen Party South Region Chief Coordinator Hasnat Abdullah said the country effectively had no functioning government when the oath was taken before the president on 8 August and the law and order situation was rapidly deteriorating.
Speaking to reporters outside the National Parliament building on Sunday afternoon, he said the sovereignty of the state was at risk at that time and decisions had to be taken to restore law and order amid the emerging situation.
He said participation of different political parties was later ensured through the formation of the Consensus Commission.
Hasnat said the issue requires reconsideration if the present situation is forcibly compared with that of 8 August.
He also criticised BNP leaders for questioning the verdict of the referendum.
“Sixty-eight per cent of people gave their mandate in favour of the July Charter in the referendum. Questioning it even after that amounts to mocking the people’s verdict,” Hasnat Abdullah said.
He said 68 per cent of voters expressed their mandate in the referendum, but Home Minister Salahuddin questioned the result.
“He said there are doubts about whether those who voted ‘yes’ or ‘no’ actually voted later. That means he has questioned the political awareness of the people,” he said.
The NCP leader also questioned the BNP’s position on the issue, saying Tarique Rahman campaigned in favour of the referendum but there are now calls to continue the process under the existing 1972 Constitution.
“That is a kind of contradiction,” he said.
Hasnat Abdullah also referred to remarks by Khaleda Zia, saying she once said the constitution would be thrown away the day a government of the people enters parliament.
“But the sincerity now being shown towards the constitution appears similar to the position of the Awami League,” he said.
He added that if the verdict of the referendum is described as unconstitutional, then calling the referendum unconstitutional while considering parliamentary elections constitutional creates an unclear position.
