BNP won’t be able to stop referendum even with 100 years of effort: Nasiruddin Patwari

NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari has said that BNP will not be able to stop the upcoming referendum even with 100 years of effort.

He made this comment at the launching ceremony of the National Health Alliance, an organization of health professionals and students, at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Wednesday (November 12).

Expressing solidarity with the 5-point demand movement of eight parties including Jamaat-e-Islami, Nasiruddin Patwari said: "NCP is expressing solidarity with the 5-point demand that has been raised by eight parties including Jamaat. We will not remain silent if they are attacked. BNP will not be able to stop the referendum even after 100 years of effort. If they do not learn from the fall of Awami League, the people will also teach them lesson. Hasnat Abdullah alone is enough to stop Awami League. There is no reason for people to fear."

He said: "Now the advisers are unhappy when we speak. The government has lost its connection with the people. Attacks are being carried out whenever we take to the streets with demands. There is no point in making the advisors unhappy, the people's demands are the main thing now."

Calling on those injured in the 'fire terror' to stand by them, the NCP chief coordinator said: "All political parties must come forward. Humanitarian responsibility is now everyone's."

Pointing to the BNP-Jamaat alliance, he further said: "The Awami fascist regime has imposed all kinds of punishments on the leaders of BNP-Jamaat. Now there is a demand for reforms, one party has already withdrawn from that process. Some say that the people do not understand anything - this idea is wrong. Everyone must unite to protect the sovereignty of the country. The new generation wants reforms."

Addressing BNP, Nasiruddin Patwari said: "BNP became a big party because Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia understood the hearts of the people. If the current leadership does not understand the pulse of the people, the party will be lost. BNP will have to return to the people again."

Referring to the chaos in the health sector, he said: "If party cadres are involved in fights in the health ministry, then the entire country will have to pay the price. A big disaster can come."

At the same event, NCP chief organizer Hasnat Abdullah said: "In the post-people's uprising period, singing praises of no one will be allowed. Whether it is good or bad, we have to speak from the front. During Hasina's tenure, there was freedom of agreement, but there was no freedom of dissent. Being able to hear unpopular words is an indication of democracy. Hasina is not a person—she is an idea. Journalists who travel abroad and sing praises of her in press briefings should also self-criticize."