“Government is not conducting referendum campaigning the way it should: Badiul Alam Majumdar”

Staff Correspondent :
Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of the central committee of Citizens for Good Governance (Sujon), said that citizens will have the opportunity to express their opinions on fundamental reforms. Forty- eight issues have been packaged into four groups, and a referendum will be held through a “yes/no” vote. A “yes” vote will support reforms, while a “no” vote will maintain the authoritarian structure.

He said it is unfortunate that the government is not carrying out the level of campaigning that should be done for the referendum. “The government is like an immovable boulder,” he commented. “Moving such a stone is extremely difficult.” He made these remarks on Saturday (27 September) afternoon while speaking at a views-exchange meeting titled “Fair Elections and Democratic Progress” at the convention hall of the Shilpakala Academy in the Kalibazar area of the city. He further said that the referendum on reforms is included in the process, and the verdict on the Fifteenth Amendment was supposed to be delivered last Thursday. Unfortunately, it has been postponed by the Appellate Division. The higher court has partially annulled it. He expressed hope that if the hearing is held next March, the caretaker government system may return.

The meeting was presided over by Sujon’s district president, Dhiman Saha Jewel. Also present were Narayanganj College Principal Dr. Fazlul Haque Rumen Reza, Coordinator of the Taqi Manch for the Elimination of Terrorism Rafiqul Rabbi, President of Narayanganj Citizens’ Committee A.B. Siddique, General Secretary of Narayanganj Press Club Afzal Hossain Panti, former Narsingdi City Corporation councilor Maksudul Alam Khandakar Khorshed, and leaders of various political, social, and cultural organizations.