Referendum issue 'detached', all eyes on national elections

Nowadays most discussed issue in the country's political arena is the referendum. However, when trying to find an answer to the question of how much the common people know or are interested in this referendum, a different picture comes to the fore.

The July Charter and the referendum have not resonated with the common people. Rather, all eyes are on the national parliamentary elections.

While talking to people from different communities and professions, Views Bangladesh came to know that most people do not have any clear idea about what the referendum is going to be about. Although some are familiar with the word referendum, they do not know the reason, goal and impact behind it.

Low-income people are saying: what is the point of the referendum and the July Charter! Their concern now is about the market price. How will they survive with their families by buying rice, pulses and oil is their main problem. However, they are interested in the parliamentary elections. They want to see an elected government in the country.

Views Bangladesh talked to at least 100 people (aged 30 to 60) from different classes and professions in Bogura. Most of them have not even heard of the July Charter and the referendum. Some people have heard the name but do not know anything about the July Charter and the referendum.

Businessman Mottakinul Islam, a resident of Rahmannagar area of ​​the city, said that he has heard the names of the referendum and the July Charter. However, he does not know what those are.

Autorickshaw driver Lemon Mia of the city said that he knows about the July Charter. At that time, he could not drive due to the blockade, it was very difficult. He has not heard anything about the referendum yet.

Day labourer Babu Pramanik said that he cannot say what the July Charter is. He has not even heard that there will be a referendum. He cannot even manage his family's expenses and does not have time to think about those topics.

Grocery shopkeeper Hazrat Ali of Shajahanpur upazila said that he does not know anything about the July Charter and the referendum. He has not even heard the names.

Businessman Shah Mohammad Belal, a resident of the same upazila, said that the July Charter could be a certificate of those injured or killed in the movement to overthrow the government. And he is familiar with the name of the referendum. He does not know anything more than that.

Manik Mia, a tea shopkeeper in Bogra city, said:"What are the July Charter and the referendum? There is no need to know these things. They just want to know when the elections will be held? When will security return to the country? Now, all they see in the newspapers are news of murders, rapes and various crimes."

Taukir Ahmed, a resident of Shibganj upazila of Bogura, said that he has heard the names of the referendum and the July Charter. But he does not know the details. There is no discussion about these issues in society.

Dilruba Noori, member secretary and lawyer of the district committee of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BSD), said that the referendum will be meaningful only when people know what they will vote on. Now the people do not know anything about the Reform Commission's proposal or the July Charter. So how will they decide whether to vote yes or no?

He also said that the referendum is not a demand of the people, it has become a part of the process of some particular political parties. When such initiatives come in the interests of a party, they lose their importance to the common people.

Dilruba Noori said that the recommendations of the July Charter, which this referendum is centered on, are being implemented by deceiving the political parties that participated in the discussions at the National Consensus Commission.