Leftist groups outside July Charter reject referendum as ‘unconstitutional, redundant’

In practice, it holds no value, and if the next parliament does not accept it, there is nothing to be done, say leftist leaders

Several left-leaning political parties that did not sign the July National Charter have labelled the referendum proposed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus as “unnecessary and extra-constitutional”.

Immediately following Yunus’s address to the nation on Thursday, these parties expressed opposition to the plans outlined in the July Charter, which included holding a referendum and the next parliamentary polls on the same day in February.

The announcement came after Yunus addressed the nation and the July Charter implementation order was issued with the approval of the Advisory Council and President Md Sahabuddin.

The order contains instructions regarding both the referendum and constitutional reform processes.

Masud Rana, coordinator of the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist), questioned the president’s authority to issue such an order.

“What power does the president have to sign and enforce this order? According to Bangladesh’s Constitution, such an order cannot be issued. At most, a decree can be issued, but this conflicts with the existing Constitution,” he said.

Rana described the referendum as “completely outside the Constitution and unnecessary”.

Similarly, Bazlur Rashid Firoz, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BaSaD), said: “The chief advisor is also the head of the Consensus Commission -- a clear conflict of interest. We opposed the referendum, the PR system, and the Upper House during discussions.

“Such an Upper House is unnecessary in a poor country", he said, likening it to a poor person imitating the wealthy.

Firoz added, “The referendum has no efficacy and no legal basis. It is being imposed on top of the mandate already given to parliamentarians. In practice, it has no value. If the next parliament refuses to adopt it, there is nothing to be done. We considered the referendum unnecessary before, and we still do.”

Rana also criticised the process, saying: “The dissenting voices of political parties were completely ignored. Out of four questions set for the referendum, there was disagreement on one, but there was no opportunity to record that differing opinion.

“This is an undemocratic process. True democratic deliberation is absent.”

Kazi Sazzad Zahir Chandan, president of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), echoed these concerns: “There is no provision for a referendum in the existing Constitution. The focus now should be on conducting the next parliamentary election swiftly.”

Former CPB general secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince, who attended all Consensus Commission discussions, said: “The referendum is unnecessary. If needed, it can take place after the parliamentary elections. The Upper House is irrelevant in a poor country.”

Prince also questioned the lack of details about the 30 proposals Yunus mentioned and said issues such as the 30-year foreign management of the Laldia Container Terminal were unacceptable until an election date is formally set and an impartial, credible national election is ensured.

Masud Rana expressed alarm that Yunus’s address made no mention of the deteriorating law-and-order situation in the country.

“Over the past few days, incidents across Bangladesh have shown a severe breakdown in law and order. People are being shot on the streets. The chief advisor provided no guidance on these matters, which is worrying,” he said.