'BNP won’t accept any government announcement outside July Charter'

BNP has warned the government not to take any decision outside the July National Charter.

At a press conference on Tuesday (November 11), members of the party's standing committee said that if the government takes any decision outside the issues stipulated in the July Charter, the responsibility will rest with the government.

At the press conference held at the BNP Chairperson's office in Gulshan, top party leaders said that a decision was made at the National Standing Committee meeting held on November 10 with Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in the chairn- the July National Charter was formulated along with several notes of dissent based on a year-long discussion between the National Consensus Commission and political parties. It was signed on October 17 and all parties concerned are committed to implementing it according to the country's constitution and laws.

However, BNP has recently alleged that some advisers to the interim government have been making misleading comments about giving government decisions outside the charter. The party has clearly stated that if the government announces any decision outside the issues mentioned in the charter, it will not be binding on any party that signed the charter.

At the press conference, former minister and BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said: "If the government makes any announcement outside the July Charter, no party that signed it will be bound to accept it. The government will have to take decisions carefully."

Standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said: "BNP agrees with the Note of Distinction and holding national elections and referendums on the same day. However, we are not bound to accept any decision made by the government outside the July Charter. If the government calls for talks, BNP is ready to respond."

At the press conference, BNP called on the government to take careful and responsible steps to maintain respect and trust in the July Charter.