Opposition leader announces plans for public protests after leading a walkout over the stalled Constitution Reform Council motion

Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman today announced that they would launch street protests involving the public after leading a walkout from parliament, blaming the move on the failure to secure any resolution on a motion seeking the convening of the Constitution Reform Council.

During a briefing in the evening, following the walkout, he said the protest would be finalised in consultation with other parties in the Jamaat-led alliance.

Earlier, at around 5:40pm, after the question-answer session in the House, he took the floor on a point of order and announced the walkout, after which opposition lawmakers left the parliament chamber.

The opposition alleged that no decision was reached on their adjournment motion on convening the Constitution Reform Council. Shafiqur also accused the government of trying to suppress their proposal by bringing another notice on the same issue.

During the briefing, the Jamaat ameer said, “We are deeply surprised, hurt and aggrieved. There have been three referendums in Bangladesh before, and none ended like this. In all three cases, the people’s verdict was honoured and they got the opportunity to proceed accordingly. This is the first time when all of us -- government and opposition -- were united and sought votes in favour of it, yet it has been ignored, defied and brought to an end.”

He added, “We sincerely wanted a resolution within the House. Had it been resolved inside the House, the people would have been pleased.”

Shafiqur said, “Since the people’s will was not duly respected and accepted within the House, we now have only one path -- to return to the people. We will go back to those who gave us this mandate.”

He alleged that the people’s aspiration for reform and for a change in the country’s political character was not allowed to proceed in a proper manner. “This is painful for the nation and for us, and it is unfortunate for this parliament.”

He further said the 11-party alliance would meet soon to decide their next course of action and inform the media accordingly.