BSS) - Adviser to the Ministries of Industries and Housing and Public Works Adilur Rahman Khan today said that those who are raising questions about the government campaigning for the upcoming referendum are basically fugitive forces.

The July Charter was framed through the initiative of comrades who sacrificed their lives during July–August mass uprising, and a referendum has been arranged to implement this charter, he added.

Adilur Rahman, also the adviser of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, made the remarks while talking to journalists after paying tributes at the July Memorial set up at Gurudayal Government College ground in Kishoreganj town this morning.

Mentioning that the referendum has been arranged with the objective of implementing the spirit of the July mass uprising, he noted that those who had taken a position against the July mass uprising are now trying to create confusion among the people over referendum.

However, the people of Bangladesh stand with the July caravan and will make that position clear by voting “Yes” in the referendum, he added.

Noting that the current government is a government in favor of mass uprising, the adviser said that the July Charter was formulated with the participation of the struggling students and the masses, and the government will work with the students and the masses in implementing this charter.

Regarding the political process after the referendum, he said public support would be expressed through a “Yes” vote in the referendum on the 12th, after which preferred candidates would be elected from the local level and sent to parliament.

He said the people of Bangladesh are highly conscious and intelligent and have made history.

Mentioning that only two days remain for the formal campaign of the election, he said after that, the entire country will stand united in favour of the referendum, the July Charter, the changes brought by the mass uprising and the protection of people’s rights.

Highlighting that many who supported fascism have fled the country, the adviser said others are also in hiding. He expressed optimism that fair and good elections would be held in Kishoreganj and other parts of the country.

Kishoreganj’s Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Islam Molla, Superintendent of Police Dr S M Farhad Hossain, district convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Hafez Ikram Hossain, July fighters and officials of the district administration were present.

Later, he joined a view-exchange meeting on the referendum with heads of different government offices at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference room.

He is also scheduled to take part in meetings to raise awareness about the referendum with NGO representatives working in the district and beneficiary women, alongside several programmes in different upazilas of the district.