Jamaat's call for Nov referendum is another master plan: Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday raised doubts over of a 'master plan' behind Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's call for a November referendum on the July Charter, warning that it might be an attempt to delay the upcoming national election, report agencies.

"As for the referendum on the July Charter, now you (Jamaat) are demanding that it be held in November. But most political parties have already agreed that the referendum will take place on the same day as the parliamentary election. It won't take extra time and will also save costs," he said.

The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a discussion, organised by Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Tuesday, protesting the desecration of the Quran and derogatory comments about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by Islamic party leaders.

He further said if Jamaat insists on holding the referendum in November, it will hamper the preparation for the national election.