BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed has said that the proposal to issue a constitutional order by the Chief Adviser is “emotion-driven,” stressing that the state cannot function based on emotions.
“The government can only issue a gazette notification. The state runs on laws and institutions, not sentiments. With cabinet approval, the President, in absence of Parliament, can enact such laws,” Salahuddin said at a discussion organized by University Teachers Association of Bangladesh (UTAB) at National Press Club’s Jahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall in Dhaka on Thursday.
In September, amid differing opinions among political parties over implementing the proposals of the July Charter, National Consensus Commission recommended that the interim government issue a constitutional order to implement major reform proposals immediately.
The order would later be put to a national referendum held alongside the next parliamentary elections.
At that time, several political parties, including BNP, opposed the idea of issuing a constitutional order, while Jamaat-e-Islami supported it.
Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) said it would discuss the proposal internally before taking a stance.
Addressing Thursday’s event, Salahuddin also spoke about the referendum issue. “It was BNP that first proposed a referendum; to be held on the day of national election. Except for two political parties, everyone has agreed to this. We will decide, based on expert opinions, how to issue the July Charter through a gazette notification, because in the end, it will gain legal status through a people’s referendum,” he said.
Referring to recent political remarks, he added, “Yesterday, a political party claimed that BNP accepted the referendum under public pressure. If they feel happy thinking that, we have no objection; we welcome it. But we have always maintained that the July National Charter has been drafted, will be signed and will be completed through a historic event.”
Salahuddin further emphasized that along with economic progress, a change in social and mental attitudes is also necessary.
“Mental reform is essential alongside other reforms; otherwise, the reforms will not be effective in practice,” he noted.
The discussion was chaired by UTAB President Prof. Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam.
Other speakers included BNP Media Cell Convener Prof. Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel, UTAB Secretary General Prof. Dr. Md. Morshed Hasan Khan, former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. AFM Yusuf Haider and Prof. Dr. SM Hafizur Rahman of Institute of Education and Research.
Courtesy: Daily Observer Online
