Govt betraying nation over July Charter: Dr Shafiq

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday accused the government of endlessly deceiving the nation over the July Charter, saying those who question the people's verdict do not believe in democracy.

He made the remarks while addressing a seminar at IDEB Bhaban in Kakrail, titled The Spirit of the July Uprising, Implementation of the Referendum Verdict, Trial of the July Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, and Our Present Reality.

Dr Shafiq said political parties risk losing public trust if they betray the people.

If political parties deceive the nation, the people will no longer respect politicians in the future, he said. We wanted an election, but we did not want a conspiracy in the name of an election. A conspiracy was carried out, and members of the interim government were also involved. We condemn their role.

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He warned that his party would not compromise on what it described as the people's democratic rights.
Speakers at the seminar alleged that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), by failing to implement the referendum verdict, was pushing the country toward a fresh political crisis. They argued that implementing the referendum outcome was essential to preventing further political unrest and bloodshed.

Reiterating his allegations, the Jamaat chief claimed that individuals within the interim government had participated in the alleged election conspiracy.

We wanted an election, not a conspiracy. Those in the interim government who were introduced as neutral and non-partisan also became part of that conspiracy. They themselves admitted that the 11-party alliance was defeated through a conspiracy, he said.

Explaining why the alliance accepted the election results despite its allegations, Dr Shafiq said the decision was taken to protect the country from instability.

One of our senior leaders called for reconciliation, patience and safeguarding the nation from civil conflict. After more than 17 years, had we revolted against what we believe was a conspiratorial election and rejected the results outright, no one knows where the resulting disorder might have led the country, he said.

He added that although the 11-party alliance accepted the election outcome, it had made clear that it would not allow the verdict of the national referendum to be ignored.

The opposition leader also criticised political parties that, according to him, began demanding elections immediately after the July events instead of standing beside the families of those killed.

When the blood of the martyrs was still fresh and grieving mothers were mourning, some political parties began calling for elections instead of consoling the victims' families. That shows how little value they place on the sacrifices of their own supporters, he said.