Will start calling BNP government illegal if referendum verdict is not respected: Asif Mahmud

Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajeeb Bhuiyan has urged the ruling BNP government to ‘come to its senses’ and show goodwill on the issue of reforms. He said, ‘If you (government) do not accept the referendum verdict, then we will start calling this government an illegitimate government from that day. We will not take time for this. Just as you are not taking time to destroy all our achievements, we will not take time for that either.’

The NCP leader also said to the current government, ‘You have often said that there will be no more coups in 15-20 years. There is a precedent for this in Bangladesh. When the achievements of 1969 could not be preserved in Bangladesh, the Liberation War was fought in 1971. If the achievements of 2024 cannot be preserved, such an incident can happen again in 2026-27.’

Asif Mahmud said these things at an emergency press conference at the NCP’s temporary central office at Bangla Motor in the capital on Sunday evening. This press conference was called to express the position on ‘the BNP government’s disregard of the referendum and the cancellation of the emergency ordinances for state reforms and contemporary issues’.

Although they wanted to cooperate from the beginning, the current government is creating a situation where there is no choice but to go on the road,’ Asif Mahmud commented. He said, ‘In the situation in which you have abandoned us, in this situation we had no choice but to take to the streets. In the coming days, we may have to think about a larger-scale movement. This will not be good for anyone, it will be a loss for the entire country.’ He called on the government to come to its senses and show goodwill.