Advocate Dr Helal Uddin, deputy amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dhaka South unit, said BNP would be compelled to accept the referendum verdict if students and citizens took to the streets. He made the remarks on Tuesday as chief guest at a discussion on “Bloody 36 July” organised by the party’s Paltan police station unit.

Helal Uddin claimed that about 70 percent of the country’s people voted “yes” in a referendum supporting constitutional reform. He alleged that BNP sought to disregard that public verdict by pursuing constitutional amendments rather than reform through its parliamentary majority, and by forming an amendment committee with preferred individuals. He said rejecting the referendum result meant denying the July revolution and betraying the blood of martyrs.

He also alleged that the current prime minister, home minister and BNP leaders were outside the country during the July movement, preventing them from understanding its aspirations. He called for accountability for every day of Awami League rule and urged the government to try the party as an entity for crimes against humanity. Advocate Maruful Islam chaired the meeting.