BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Saturday raised concerns over the proposed national referendum, questioning why voters would reportedly have no clear option to reject any of the four questions.
“Voters must answer yes or no, but there is no space to say ‘no’. If someone disagrees with a question, where will they write it? This gap has not been addressed in the referendum process,” Rizvi said while providing financial assistance to ailing radio artiste Afroza Nezami in Shyamoli on behalf of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
Rizvi said experts have also flagged the lack of a clear mechanism for voters to reject questions, warning that rushed or unclear procedures do not last. “For any national process to be sustainable, it must be understandable to at least 90 percent of the people. If people do not understand the referendum, the whole effort loses meaning,” he added.
He stressed that the spirit of the July Charter must be clearly explained in simple terms so ordinary citizens can grasp its purpose. According to Rizvi, the country’s priorities—food, shelter, healthcare, and education—should be central to any national agenda, and the referendum should be presented in a way that aligns with these fundamental needs.
Rizvi also criticised the government for allowing instability to grow, alleging that arson attacks in Dhaka and Gazipur reflect a “fascist culture” linked to the ruling party, not the BNP. “When we called hartals for democracy, they tried to blame BNP by committing arson themselves,” he said, citing previous incidents involving Youth League and Chhatra League members.
He urged the interim government to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful national election in the first week of February and encouraged vigilance among citizens. Addressing concerns over Jamaat and other parties pressing for referendums before the election, Rizvi advocated dialogue as the solution. “Giving any programme that looks like a ‘point of no return’ is not right now. Democracy allows discussion, criticism, and protest—but if you reach a point of no return, democracy collapses,” he said.
Rizvi’s remarks highlight BNP’s demand for clarity, transparency, and citizen participation in the referendum process while framing the party as a proponent of democratic safeguards and accountability.
