New referendum over constitutional amendment a mockery: Rashed Pradhan

Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) Vice-President and party spokesperson Rashed Pradhan has said that BNP government’s move to hold a fresh referendum on the issue of amendment to the Constitution is sheer gimmickry.

“Earlier, there was a demand for ‘reforms’ of the Constitution, not just its ‘amendment’. A referendum on the ‘reforms’ was already held and the people of the country have mandated ‘Yes’ to it. Hence, a new referendum on the issue of ‘amendment’ to the Constitution is nothing but a mockery of the nation,” he said.

He said this in a media statement issued on Sunday, (27 September).

Questioning BNP government’s stand, he said, “We demanded a referendum before the National Election. Then, this BNP itself argued that a separate referendum would be a waste of the public money. It gave a lame excuse that it would be better to hold the referendum after the elections because everything could be done on the same day without any extra expenditure. So, will it not be the same wasteful act if the government goes ahead with another referendum now?”

Rashed Pradhan said that the issue of the referendum was already decided.

“There is no need to go for a new referendum, this time in the name of ‘amendment’, to turn Bangladesh into an authoritarian state. The referendum on ‘reforms’ has already been held. Let the people’s verdict be implemented. Otherwise, the government will have to face the music for having committed the crime of betrayal of the country, the nation and the people,” he said.