Referendum must be held on election day: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said the referendum must be held on the same day as the national parliamentary election.

"We are in agreement on this. No referendum will be allowed before the national election," Fakhrul said while speaking as chief guest at a memorial meeting marking the seventh death anniversary of Tariqul Islam, BNP Standing Committee member and former minister, in Jashore.

"A few political parties are trying to create instability with various demands. They are trying to disrupt and delay the election. The people will not accept this. We achieved independence through the shedding of much blood, freeing ourselves from the hands of fascists. We now have an opportunity to return to a democratic system. We cannot allow any conspiracy to destroy this opportunity."

Read more

‘Before Dhaka turns into a sea of people on Nov 11, accept 5-point demand’

"I call upon all political parties -- please do not muddy the waters. Do not push the country toward instability. Do not make the people suffer unrest. We have struggled long and hard, fought many battles. Cases have been filed against sixty lakh people. Twenty thousand have lost their lives. Now you are starting anew, trying to gain political advantage. The people of this country will not accept that."

Accusing the Consensus Commission of bias, he said, "Now you're saying political parties should sit together and make decisions. Then what have you been doing all this time? You didn't do your job properly. We have always gone to the commission and given our opinions."

Read more

July charter, referendum dispute: Resolve differences, preferably in 7 days