BNP won't bend to any political party's will, says Salahuddin

BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed has insisted the party will not yield to pressure from any political party.

Speaking at an event on Saturday, marking the 36th founding anniversary of the National Democratic Party (NDP), an organisation within the BNP-led alliance “Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote”, Salahuddin said the state is not “child’s play” and the fate of the people “cannot be allowed to be trifled with”.

Without naming any specific party, the BNP Standing Committee member said: “None of us has the right to change the Constitution without a lawful, valid, and constitutional process. If we do, it will set a precedent for a situation where, after two years or five, [the country] will repeatedly face demands to amend the Constitution again in the same manner, through the same process.”

He said the state must be allowed to run in a systematic manner. “The interest of the people is paramount; the will of the people is final. The sovereign people of this country are the ultimate decision-makers. Let us go to them.”

The Jamaat-e-Islami announced a mass procession programme after three days of demonstrations, as part of the simultaneous movement supporting a five-point demand, which includes holding the election based on the July Charter and introducing the proportional representation (PR) voting system.

Additionally, Islamist party Khelafat Majlis announced an 11-day programme, including a mass procession in Dhaka, on a five-point demand, including the legal basis of the July Charter.

Several parties, including Jamaat and the National Citizen Party (NCP), have been demanding the introduction of the PR system in elections. However, the BNP and a few other parties strongly oppose it and are calling for direct voting under the current system.

The BNP has been demanding that the reforms mentioned in the July Charter that require constitutional amendments should be left to the next elected parliament.

In contrast, Jamaat wants the Constitution amended before the election through a temporary constitutional order or a referendum. They want the full implementation of the July Charter before the polls.