Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday warned that his party would take to the streets to demand implementation of the people’s verdict delivered through the referendum if it is ignored in Parliament.
“It will be resolved either in Parliament or on the streets. We will not abandon this public demand, nor do we have the right to do so,” he said while speaking to journalists at the LD Hall of the Parliament complex.
Dr Shafiqur said his party remains committed to fulfilling the aspirations expressed by the people and cannot betray that commitment. “We are confident this demand, Inshallah, will be realised either today or tomorrow,” he added.
Rejecting a government proposal seeking opposition nominations for a special parliamentary committee on constitutional amendment, he said his party would only consider joining a committee formed specifically for constitutional reform rather than routine amendments.
Referring to the referendum, Dr Shafiqur said around 70 percent of voters supported constitutional reform. “We stand with the people and their verdict. Therefore, if a committee is formed for reform instead of amendment, we will consider participating in it,” he said.
He argued that constitutional amendments are part of the normal parliamentary process and do not require a special committee. According to him, when an amendment bill is brought before Parliament, the opposition will take part in the debate and discussion.
“If they come up with a proposal for reform, then we will consider it,” he said.
On the role of the opposition in Parliament, Dr Shafiqur said lawmakers have been elected to represent the people and raise their concerns. “If any logical issue is ignored and we are denied the opportunity to speak, we may walk out of Parliament, but not for a long term,” he said.
He urged observers not to view his party as an overly confrontational opposition. “Do not consider us an excessively aggressive opposition. Rather, cooperate with us so that we can serve as a reasonable and logical opposition in the national interest,” he said.
The opposition leader recalled that Bangladesh had what he described as a relatively effective parliamentary opposition after the 2008 election but claimed that legislatures formed through the elections of 2014, 2018 and 2024 lacked an effective opposition.
“We have seen opposition parties sharing ministries with the government. We have also seen opposition leaders whose selection depended on the ruling party leadership. We have witnessed such opposition in Parliament,” he said.
“Our position is completely different. We will not be a submissive opposition. At the same time, we will not engage in any behaviour inside Parliament that hampers public interest. The people sent us here to speak on their behalf,” he added.
Dr Shafiqur said his party would remain focused on issues affecting the country and its citizens. “Our concern is the country and its people. We will not spend even a single minute in Parliament on matters beyond national interest,” he said, noting that each minute of a parliamentary session costs about Tk 176,000.
Commenting on the supplementary budget passed by Parliament on Monday, he criticised its timing, saying that under the law it should be presented in March but is often placed in June at the end of the fiscal year.
He also noted that parliamentary approval was sought for around Tk 56,000 crore through the Supplementary Budget 2026 and alleged that a substantial portion of the allocation could be vulnerable to misuse. “There is no accountability for a big portion of it,” he said.
The opposition leader further proposed aligning the country’s fiscal year with the calendar year to improve planning and implementation of public finances.
Deputy Opposition Leader Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher, Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, Jamaat lawmakers ATM Azharul Islam, Shahjahan Chowdhury, Rafiqul Islam Khan, Barrister Nazibur Rahman Momen, Prof Mujibur Rahman and GM Nazrul Islam, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, and Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad were present at the briefing.
