People’s referendum rights stolen

Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam on Friday accused the government of depriving people of their right to a referendum on state reforms.

“The government has stolen the people’s right to a referendum on state reform. They took part in two votes but refused to accept one of them,” Nahid said.

He made the remarks while attending a photography exhibition organised by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami to mark the second anniversary of the July Mass Uprising.

Criticising the government’s activities, Nahid said there was currently no universally accepted national programme in the country.

He alleged that just as the Awami League had politicised the Liberation War, the current government was moving towards politicising the July Mass Uprising.

Referring to a recent press conference held abroad, Nahid alleged that it took place because of the government’s failure to take appropriate diplomatic steps.

He claimed that the Indian government had facilitated the event and said the Indian high commissioner should have been summoned over the matter.

Nahid further accused the government of being “compromising” towards what he described as fascist forces and said the constitutional amendment committee had already lost its legitimacy.

“The government has created a constitutional crisis,” he said.

Expressing concern over the situation at educational institutions, Nahid alleged that violence was being carried out at campuses associated with the July movement and that attempts were being made to seize control of them.

He warned that unless structural reforms were implemented, the current government could eventually become similar to what he described as the fascist Awami League government.