Home Minister questions legality of referendum

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday alleged that the referendum held alongside the February 17 parliamentary election was unconstitutional, claiming it was conducted under an "illegal order" without political consensus.

Speaking at a discussion titled "Bloody July: Context, the Debt of Blood and Bangladesh's Future" at the National Press Club in Dhaka, he said the referendum was held under the July National Charter Implementation Order, 2025, instead of a constitutionally recognised process.

"The referendum was not constitutional. It was conducted under an illegal order without political consensus," he said.

Salahuddin also criticised the voting format, saying voters were asked to answer four separate questions with a single "Yes" or "No" response, which failed to accurately reflect public opinion.

He argued that if a referendum had been necessary, it should have sought public approval for the July National Charter 2025 as a single political consensus document signed at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad.

The discussion was organised by Gono Odhikar Parishad and chaired by its President and State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur. State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraq Hossain, Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Gono Odhikar Parishad Senior Vice-President Faruk Hasan and Jagannath University teacher Nasir Uddin also spoke.

The minister also criticised several commissions formed during the interim government, alleging that some lacked clearly defined mandates and failed to ensure justice for victims of enforced disappearances and their families.

He said the government would place a comprehensive Prevention of Enforced Disappearance Act before the next session of Parliament. The proposed law would define different forms of enforced disappearance, prescribe punishments and specify judicial jurisdiction. Amendments to the laws governing the Anti-Corruption Commission and the National Human Rights Commission are also being prepared, he added.

Salahuddin also condemned mob justice, describing it as "an unhealthy culture" born of weak rule of law.

"Mob justice can never be justice. The rule of law must be established through the administration and the judiciary," he said.

Referring to Article 142 of the Constitution, he said referendums could only be held through constitutional procedures with presidential approval for amendments to fundamental constitutional provisions. He urged political parties to strengthen democratic institutions and avoid actions that could deepen divisions or pave the way for authoritarianism.