Referendum verdict

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman has warned that a new political crisis could emerge in the country if the verdict delivered through the recent referendum is not implemented.

He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon during an exchange of views with top executives of electronic media outlets at his residence on Minto Road in the capital.

Jamaat Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Porwar briefed journalists after the meeting. He said the Jamaat Ameer had discussed the country’s prevailing political situation and public suffering with the media executives.

According to Porwar, Dr Rahman noted that the 13th national parliamentary election and the referendum were held together on February 12. He said that if the verdict given by the public through that referendum is not implemented, it risks triggering a crisis in national politics.

Porwar said several senior electronic media executives, during the discussion, advised that anyone holding a differing opinion on implementing the referendum result should state that position clearly and publicly. In their view, those who disagree with the referendum outcome should make explicit whether or not they accept the people’s verdict.

The meeting also touched on a range of pressing national issues, Porwar said, including rising commodity prices, the electricity and gas crisis, hardships facing ordinary citizens, extremism, and narrow partisan politicization.

He added that the Jamaat Ameer expressed the view that electronic media, beyond reporting the news, can play an important role in shaping public opinion and building national consensus.

The opposition leader also spoke about the broader responsibilities of the media, saying outlets have a role not only in reporting news but also in advancing national unity, sovereignty, and democracy.

He invited open feedback, including constructive suggestions or criticism, regarding Jamaat’s activities.
Porwar said the media executives, for their part, raised concerns specific to their sector during the meeting – particularly structural issues in electronic media compared to print, such as salary structures, wage board implementation, and workplace security for journalists and staff.