Shishir Monir, a member of the Jamaat-e-Islami Executive Council, has questioned why calls to cancel the recently held referendum are not accompanied by calls to cancel the national election. Speaking at a press conference at the party’s central office in Moghbazar on Monday night, he said,
“If the referendum is to be cancelled, then why not the national election? Over 135 ordinances were issued in between—should they be ignored too?”
Shishir Monir emphasized that if the referendum is annulled, all decisions after August 5, including the national election, would also be invalid. He added that this is not a matter for the courts but a decision that must be taken by parliament.
“If any decision is forced on the court, it will act as a political boomerang,” he warned.
The remarks come as a petition has been filed in the High Court challenging the validity of the referendum and seeking annulment of the results. The petition was filed by Supreme Court lawyer ABM Ataul Majid Tauhid. Responding to the matter, Shishir Monir noted that no verdict has been issued yet and that the court will only consider issuing a rule or interim injunction in the coming days.
With the parliament set to convene in just 10 days, Shishir Monir alleged that the referendum challenge has been initiated under government influence.
