July Charter implementation cannot bypass constitution: Rizvi

BNP Acting Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said demanding the implementation of the July Charter without maintaining constitutional continuity or amending the Constitution amounts to an imposition by force.

He made the remarks at a memorial meeting organised by Mugda thana BNP and its affiliated organisations at Haider Ali School and College premises in Manda of the capital on Saturday.

Rizvi said implementing the July Charter would require both ordinary legislation and constitutional amendments in certain areas, and that demands for implementation without following the legal process could not be accepted.

He said the BNP and several other political parties had submitted notes of dissent over certain provisions of the charter, adding that the differences should be resolved through discussions and dialogue.

"Demanding that whatever is proposed must be accepted without hearing other views is not acceptable politics," he said.

Rizvi stressed that any constitutional reform must follow established procedures and a legal framework, adding that such changes could be implemented through parliamentary discussions and constitutional amendments.

Speaking about the global economic situation and the energy crisis, he said fuel shortages and rising prices were affecting countries across the world, including those in the Middle East and Europe.

He alleged that opposition parties were trying to hold the government responsible for the impact of the global crisis on Bangladesh.

Rizvi said the BNP and its chairman Tarique Rahman were making sincere efforts to secure alternative supplies of fuel and gas from Malaysia and Indonesia to keep industries operating and ensure uninterrupted cooking fuel supplies for ordinary people. He also claimed that the power shortage situation in the capital had been brought largely under control.

Highlighting the government's economic initiatives, Rizvi said the BNP-led coalition government was working to maintain domestic economic activities and create employment opportunities.

He said the Family Card programme had been introduced for marginalised and extremely poor people, which he claimed would reduce the poverty rate by at least five percentage points.

He also referred to diplomatic visits and agreements with Japan and China, saying the government was working to attract global companies, including Toyota, to establish factories in Bangladesh and create new jobs.

Paying tribute to the late Shamsul Huda, Rizvi described him as a tested and humble politician with nearly 40 years of experience.

He said Huda had never spoken harshly to anyone or become involved in confrontations and had treated others with affection and care.

At a time when falsehoods and character assassination were increasing in politics, Rizvi said, the absence of principled leaders like Huda, who served as guardians to others, was being deeply felt.

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The meeting was organised in memory of Shamsul Huda, founding president of the undivided Sabujbagh thana BNP.

Former student leader and State Minister for Railways Habibur Rashid Habib, MP, addressed the meeting as the chief speaker.

Litton Mahmud, joint convener of Dhaka South BNP, chaired the programme. Tanvir Ahmed Robin, member secretary of Dhaka South Metropolitan BNP, and former joint convener Alhaj Yunus Mridha attended as special guests.

Among the other speakers were Dhaka South BNP joint convener and freedom fighter Golam Hossain, member Sheikh Mohammad Ali China, Mugda thana BNP joint conveners Nazmul Hossain Parrot and Masud Hossain, and other local leaders.