Dhaka: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Prof Mia Golam Parwar has raised concerns that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) risks being perceived as breaking its promise to the nation should it fail to fully implement the July Charter. Parwar's remarks came during his speech as the chief guest at a seminar titled "July National Charter and Referendum: Government's Responsibility and Our Course of Action in Realising Public Aspirations" at the Dinajpur Shilpakala Academy auditorium.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Parwar criticized the BNP for allegedly retreating from its initial commitment to constitutional reforms. He highlighted that the BNP had previously assured the formation of a constitutional reform commission upon assuming power. However, the party is now focusing on constitutional amendments, which Parwar views as a deviation from their original promise. He emphasized that this shift indicates a failure to honor their commitment to the nation.
Parwar further explained that although the BNP claims it will adhere strictly to the July Charter, the party has already expressed dissent regarding certain sections of the proposed charter. He stressed that excluding these sections would significantly diminish the essence of the historic July Charter. Parwar also warned that passing the charter solely through parliamentary means could lead to potential legal challenges in the future.
He advocated for a referendum, arguing that the complete outcome of such a vote should be implemented to truly reflect public aspirations. Parwar also illustrated the importance of both national elections and referendums, comparing them to "saving one of two twin children while killing the other."
The seminar was chaired by Dinajpur district Jamaat Ameer Principal Anisur Rahman and featured speeches from various political figures, including Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim, Golam Rabbani MP, and others. The keynote paper was presented by Muhaddis Dr Enamul Haque, adding further depth to the discussions.