Ruling quarter in review body wants referendum ordinance repeal: Jamaat

Opposition party Jamaat-e-Islami has claimed that a proposal from the ruling side to repeal the referendum ordinance has stalled a decision by the special parliamentary committee reviewing the 133 ordinances issued during the interim government period, reports UNB.
According to a Jamaat MP who is a member of the special committee, they could not reach a final decision on placing the referendum ordinance, which was issued during the interim government period, before Parliament, as differences persisted during the meeting held on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters at the Jatiya Sangsad gate, opposition whip and Jamaat assistant secretary general Rafiqul Islam Khan said the matter would now be taken up again at the committee's third meeting scheduled for Sunday.
He said both the ruling and opposition sides have reached a consensus on placing around 115 out of 133 ordinances, which was promulgated during the interim government, before Parliament.
However, disagreements remain over 18 ordinances, including those related to the referendum, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), enforced disappearance prevention and redress, and human rights.
Rafiqul Islam Khan alleged that the ruling side's move to abolish the referendum provision contradicts the spirit of the 'July Uprising'.
"We strongly opposed the government's proposal to repeal the referendum bill. If referendum is denied, the very spirit of the July movement ceases to exist," he said.
Expressing concern over proposed amendments to the Anti-Corruption Commission, he said the existing system of appointing the ACC chairman through a search committee is being removed in the new proposal.
"The proposed ordinance seeks to empower the government to appoint anyone it chooses by scrapping the search committee. Similarly, in the appointment of the Police Commissioner and the Inspector General of Police, preference is being given to government choice over professionalism," he added.
He said the opposition has made it clear that such provisions go against the principles of accountability and reform, and therefore they could not agree to them.
Responding to a question about the ruling party's parliamentary majority, Rafiqul Islam Khan said past governments had used their two-thirds majority to push through decisions, but warned against repeating such practices.
"Arrogance based on numerical strength does not bring good for any nation. We will not agree to anything that goes against public interest," he said.