We expected president to be elected under July Charter, but govt rejected referendum verdict: Nahid

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and MP Nahid Islam has said the government has denied the people's verdict in the referendum by failing to take steps to implement the July Charter, despite expectations that the president would be elected under the charter following the national election.

He made the remarks at a press conference at the opposition leader's official residence on Minto Road in Dhaka today (9 August), following a meeting of the 11-party alliance.

"Our expectation was that, following the election, the president would be elected according to the July Charter," Nahid said.

He said nearly 70% of voters had backed the July Charter in the referendum and that the expectation was for the charter to be implemented, a Constitutional Reform Council to be formed and a new president to be elected under the reformed constitution.

"But we have seen that this government has denied the popular verdict of the referendum. They have taken no initiative to implement the July Charter. The reform council was not sworn in, nor was a session called," he said.

Nahid said discussions on the July Charter had continued for a long time, including proposals for a new formula to elect a universally acceptable president, changes to the presidential election process and increasing the president's powers to ensure a balance of power.

He also alleged that various state institutions were being politicised, including the Election Commission.

"One of our main demands during the movement over the past 16 years against the BNP was to ensure an effective system for the peaceful transfer of power. In this regard, a caretaker government and a neutral election commission were extremely crucial matters. But we see that this government, too, is walking the path of the old political system," he said.

Nahid also criticised the decision to retain the president in office.

"On the very first day of the first session of parliament, I said that [Mohammed Shahabuddin], a collaborator of fascism, must be removed from the post of president and a new president must be appointed quickly, and that must be done according to the July Charter. But they have kept him as president for six months," he said.

He questioned whether there was a political motive behind extending the period and said the issue could create uncertainty over the future political and constitutional process.

He also referred to what he described as previous attempts by the BNP to keep the transfer of power under its control, saying such efforts had contributed to political and constitutional crises.

Meanwhile, the 11-party alliance, led by Jamaat-e-Islami, has decided to contest the presidential election with a common candidate.

Nahid said the alliance had nominated Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmad for the post.

He described Oli Ahmad as a senior politician, a battlefield freedom fighter and a former minister who had been elected to parliament several times.

The decision was taken earlier at a meeting of the alliance's top leaders chaired by Jamaat Ameer and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman.