BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has warned that holding the referendum on the constitutional implementation of the July Charter and the upcoming national parliamentary election separately will lead to chaos.

“The majority of political parties have agreed that the referendum on the July Charter should be held on the same day as the parliamentary election. This will save both time and cost,” Rizvi said on Monday.

He added, “If the referendum is held in November, the preparations for it and then separate preparations for the parliamentary election will create disorder.”

Rizvi made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a protest discussion organized by the Jatiyatabadi Olama Dal at the National Press Club.

Commenting on the proposed Proportional Representation (PR) system, Rizvi said over half of the country’s people know nothing about it. “Forcibly imposing something people have no knowledge or experience about cannot be called democracy,” he added.

Olama Dal Convener Maulana Kazi Md Salim Reza presided over the event, which was moderated by its Member Secretary Advocate Maulana Kazi Mohammad Abul Hossain.

BNP Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon and Religious Affairs Secretary Rafiqul Islam Jamal also addressed the program, attended by leaders and activists from different units of the Olama Dal.

MN/