NN ONLINE:
BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed said here today that organizing the referendum simultaneously would help avoid any delay in holding the national election.
“If the parliamentary election and referendum on reform issues is held simultaneously, any attempt to delay the election can be avoided. However, some people do not want that. In this case, the real challenge is not the election itself, but those who want to delay it,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while taking part at a discussion organized by Nagorik Jubo Oikya on “Challenges and Prospects of a Quality and Acceptable Election” at the National Press Club here.
The BNP leader said, “It is being claimed that two ballots will confuse the people. But in local government elections, voters cast three ballots. Therefore, the people are ready to participate in both the parliamentary election and the referendum using two ballots. The Election Commission only needs to conduct public awareness campaigns to this end.”
In this context, he called upon the government to empower the Election Commission (EC) through an ordinance to organize the referendum.
He said, “The referendum should be held on the same day. Holding the referendum on the same day will prevent the need for another massive arrangement later. This will also help avoid any attempt to delay the national election.”
Salahuddin Ahmed expressed the hope that those trying to create complications over the issue would act wisely. He said people do not care about pictures of fascist groups’ processions or messages sent from Delhi or France early morning.
He further said that if the anti-fascist unity remains intact, there will be no crisis centering the election.
