Home
+
Published : 13 Jun 2026, 11:30 PM
Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman has warned that the government will not be given more time if it fails to implement reforms in line with the referendum verdict.
The Jamaat-e-Islami chief made the remarks at a rally of the 11-party opposition alliance in Chattogram on Saturday, saying no government could remain in power for long by disregarding the popular vote.
“If the government takes decisions that harm the country and its people, it will not be given more time,” he said.
The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus had taken the initiative to implement the July National Charter as part of a broader state reform agenda.
But strong disagreements between the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and their allies over how the reforms should be carried out led to the issue being put to a referendum, held alongside the national election on Feb 12.
The “Yes” vote won 68.59 percent support.
However, the formation of the Constitutional Reform Council to implement the referendum verdict under the July Charter has stalled amid a lack of interest from the BNP.
While Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies took oath as members of both parliament and the council, BNP members only took oath as MPs.
The opposition alliance has since launched protests demanding implementation of the referendum verdict, including Saturday’s rally in Chattogram.
“You are insultingly ignoring the verdict of almost 70 percent of the country’s people,” Shafiqur said. “They will not sit idle. The government must accept the people’s verdict.
“A government that does not respect the people’s vote cannot be a government of the people.”
He said ignoring public opinion went against the spirit of democracy.
“People want to see their voting rights and opinions properly reflected,” he said.
“The referendum verdict must be implemented clearly. If it is not, the people may force its implementation, as they did with the caretaker government bill in 1996.”
The rally also raised demands for easing public suffering, controlling commodity prices, improving law and order, and ensuring people’s democratic rights.
