Govt to face strong movement if referendum verdict ignored: Jamaat Ameer

BARISHAL, JULY 18: Opposition leader in Parliament and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday warned that the government would face a strong public movement if it fails to implement the verdict of the referendum, claiming nearly 70 per cent of voters supported the proposed reforms.

Addressing an 11-party divisional rally at Hemayet Uddin Central Eidgah Maidan in Barishal, he alleged that the government promised to implement the referendum outcome before assuming office but later abandoned that commitment.

"If the referendum is ignored, the government itself will lose legitimacy. If you fail the referendum, the people will fail you," he said, urging the authorities to respect what he described as the people's mandate.

The rally was organised to demand implementation of the referendum verdict, measures to ease public suffering, control the rising commodity prices and improve the country's transport system.

Shafiqur criticised the government's constitutional reform process, rejecting the parliamentary committee formed to amend the Constitution and alleging that it lacked legitimacy. He accused the government of misleading the public by renaming it a special committee while failing to honour the referendum outcome.