Shafiqure Rahman: Govt forced opposition onto streets over referendum verdict

Sylhet Bureau: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr Shafiqure Rahman has alleged that the government forced the opposition to take to the streets after failing to resolve political issues in Parliament.“We wanted a solution in Parliament based on the public mandate expressed through the referendum, but the government itself has forced us onto the streets,” he said.Dr Rahman made the remarks while exchanging views with journalists working in Sylhet at the Circuit House on Thursday evening.He said opposition lawmakers elected by the people would not compromise on what he described as legitimate public demands.“Our peaceful movement will continue,” he said, adding that the government had allegedly taken a position against the people's verdict within just seven months.He further alleged that cancelling the referendum verdict amounted to making a mockery of the nation.Responding to a question, the opposition leader said the government could not expect responsible behaviour only from the opposition.“If the government expects responsible behaviour from the opposition, can’t the nation expect responsible behaviour from the government as well?” he asked.He said the government could not avoid responsibility for prolonging what he described as the country's political crisis.Dr Rahman criticised what he described as contradictory statements by government ministers on several issues, including power and energy.“Different ministers are making different statements on the same issues, confusing the people,” he said.He also questioned the government's position on local elections. While the Election Commission is described as independent, he said, government representatives were simultaneously announcing election-related timelines.“The government needs to come out of this situation. It must take a decision and clearly inform the nation,” he said.On the Dhaka-Sylhet highway, Dr Rahman pointed to differing statements from ministers about the completion date of the project, with some mentioning 2028 and others 2029.“Only the government can say which one is correct. We can only put pressure or make recommendations,” he said.Responding to a question about the commerce minister's reported statement that higher fuel prices would not affect commodity prices, the Jamaat chief said people could already see the impact.Transport fares have increased and commodity prices have also started rising, he said.“What is the guarantee that the situation will not worsen further?” he asked, urging ministers to make more responsible statements.He also criticised the government's handling of the power and energy crisis, saying Jamaat's expert team had submitted several proposals to help address the situation, but the government had not given them due importance.At the same time, he alleged, the government was seeking suggestions from the opposition and attempting to shift responsibility onto it.Dr Rahman also rejected what he described as attempts by some government leaders to create controversy over vehicles used by the opposition during a long march.He said the opposition had hired the vehicles by paying appropriate fares and alleged that such controversies were being raised to create confusion among the public about the opposition's movement.During the interaction, Dr Rahman also responded to questions concerning transparency in donations to the shrine of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA), Sylhet Medical University, the measles situation and the Rohingya crisis.Regarding donations to the Shahjalal shrine, he called for reconsideration of the current committee's approach to managing the funds, citing the example of Pagla Mosque in Kishoreganj.He said initiatives to use shrine donations for social welfare and the promotion of religious activities could benefit people and encourage greater public participation in donations.On Sylhet Medical University, Dr Rahman said the institution existed largely in name and called for steps to launch its infrastructure and academic activities.He also expressed concern over what he described as inadequate initiatives by the Health Ministry to prevent measles infections and deaths.On the Rohingya crisis, he called for stronger international efforts to find a solution and stressed the importance of cooperation from India and China. The meeting was attended, among others, by Jamaat central executive council member and Sylhet city unit Ameer Muhammad Fakhrul Islam; central Majlis-e-Shura member and Sylhet district unit Ameer Maulana Nahabibur Rahman; Sylhet Press Club President Muktabis-un-Nur; Sylhet city Jamaat Naib Ameer and mayoral candidate for the upcoming Sylhet City Corporation election Dr Nurul Islam Babul; city unit Secretary Mohammad Shahajan Ali; and district unit Secretary Zainal Abedin.