BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said that there is no provision for holding a referendum under the current constitution that guides the interim government. Therefore, he added, there is no logical ground to raise such a demand at this moment.“The interim government has been formed in accordance with the current constitution, and they have taken the oath under it,” he said. “This constitution does not have any provision for a referendum. In the future, if any party comes to power through elections, it can amend the constitution in parliament to include a referendum clause—only then can such a process take place,” he explained.
He made these remarks on Saturday (November 8) while addressing a dialogue titled “People’s Manifesto” at the Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka.
Call to Avoid Unnecessary Street Protests
Amir Khasru cautioned political parties against taking to the streets over every issue. “It is not right to go to the streets for every demand,” he said. “Political parties must avoid such tendencies because if the country’s major political parties announce counter-programmes, it could lead to clashes.”
He further said, “A kind of authoritarian mindset has developed in our politics—there is no room for moving beyond consensus. Many of the 31 points we proposed have not yet been accepted by consensus, but that doesn’t mean I should go to the streets. I will go to the people, talk to them, and build understanding.”
‘No Room Beyond Consensus’
The BNP leader emphasized that there is no scope to act outside political consensus. “The chapter is closed,” he said. “Don’t try to impose your thoughts on the people. If you come to power, you can bring about changes then.”
Suspicion Over Chattogram Incident
Referring to a recent killing in Chattogram, Amir Khasru said, “The incident occurred due to internal conflicts among former leaders and activists of a student organization belonging to a political party. However, we suspect that those who are trying to delay the upcoming election might be behind this incident.”
Economic Stability and Public Welfare Promises
Highlighting BNP’s past performance, Amir Khasru said, “During BNP’s tenure, the stock market never crashed, and the economy remained strong. We will give more importance to the private sector. People will be able to obtain necessary licenses from home—we will make that possible.”
He added, “The more people are empowered, the more the country will develop. Empowering the party does not benefit the people—empowering citizens does. We will ensure primary healthcare services for every citizen.”