‘People’s will can’t be ignored’
The political transformation triggered by the July 2024 mass uprising against the then authoritarian Hasina government and the subsequent formation of the interim administration created a new political order whose legitimacy, as well as that of any elected government, could face questions if the mandate expressed in the February 12, 2026 referendum is not respected, speakers said on Saturday.
They called for implementation of the July Charter, arguing that the referendum reflected the popular will and that its outcome should form the basis for ongoing institutional and constitutional reforms.
The remarks came at a seminar organised by the Referendum Implementation Citizens Forum at the Abdus Salam Hall of the Jatiya Press Club.
The seminar was titled “Referendum and the Sovereign Power of the People: Moral and Constitutional Basis of the Referendum in Light of the High Court’s Observations.”
Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Manir said the events surrounding the August 5 fall of the previous government and the subsequent formation of the interim government did not follow the conventional constitutional process.
He said the uprising had emerged from broader public mobilisation rather than the initiative of any individual, political party or administration.
“This uprising was not the result of the will of any individual, political party or administration,” Manir said.
He argued that the fall of the previous government, the establishment of the interim administration and the political process culminating in the February 12 national election had all unfolded outside the existing constitutional framework.
“If the July Charter is not implemented, the legitimacy of the government will also be questioned,” he said.
Questions over political commitment
Manir criticised the BNP for what he described as a departure from its earlier commitment to the July Charter and referendum.
“Although the BNP claims to be a party of the people, it is not accepting the referendum,” he said, arguing that the interests or personal ambitions of a few individuals should not take precedence over the popular will.
Addressing Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, he said the government faced a choice between adopting a statesmanlike approach and giving greater priority to party interests.
Tajul Islam, former chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, said the BNP had repeatedly pledged to fully implement the July Charter but was now moving away from that position.
He also criticised the party for failing to ensure implementation of the referendum verdict through parliament.
Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Tanim Hossain Shawon said weaknesses in the existing constitutional framework had contributed to the circumstances surrounding the August 5 political change.
He alleged that the previous government had used constitutional provisions to sustain authoritarian rule, while the July uprising, formation of the interim government and subsequent political transition had taken place outside the established constitutional process.
Debate over legacy of uprising
Shafiqul Alam, editor of Daily Waadaa and former press secretary to the chief adviser of the interim government, said attempts were being made to cast doubt on the July uprising and the performance of the interim administration.
He described such efforts as reflecting a narrative associated with the Awami League.
At the same time, Alam said the political awareness and aspirations that had emerged among young people and ordinary citizens during the uprising could not easily be suppressed.
Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuaad, general secretary of the AB Party, said the BNP had been among the major beneficiaries of the political changes of 1975 and 1990 but had failed to meet public expectations after subsequently coming to power.
“This time too, despite being one of the biggest beneficiaries of the mass uprising, they are following the same path,” he said.
He added that the party still had an opportunity to change course.
Alternatives organiser Tajnuva Jabin attributed the lack of progress in implementing the July Charter to what she called the “arrogance of the home minister”.
“The referendum belongs to the people of Bangladesh. If everyone were united, no one could have stopped its verdict from being implemented,” she said.
The speakers broadly agreed that respecting the referendum outcome and advancing the July Charter were essential to maintaining public confidence in the post-uprising political order and strengthening democratic and constitutional governance.
