HC formula on poll-time govt

AL, BNP show indifference

While the ruling Awami League said they are not even thinking about any formula regarding the next national election, the BNP yesterday termed the two formulas for the interim government, suggested by the High Court, ‘unacceptable’. The party observed that its participation in the next general election, under a system based on such formulas, is uncertain, as the proposed interim government would not be a neutral administration, for which the party has been waging a movement.
"It's not acceptable that an election-time government will have fresh 50 ministers led by the incumbent prime minister. There's no need for such a cabinet, to hold an election," said BNP standing committee member Lt-Gen. (retd) Mahbubur Rahman.
He said, according to the first formula, 50 new ministers will be picked as ministers of the election-time cabinet, from political parties with representation in the current parliament. This means BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami will have no representation in that cabinet, which is questionable.
"I don't think BNP would participate the next general election, under this formula," he said.
When contacted, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's adviser, Mahbub Uddin Khokon, said people would not accept the formulas proposed by HC.
He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had given BNP a better proposal than HC, but BNP did not join that election because they knew that fair elections were not possible under Hasina.
"I think BNP won't take part in any election  under such formula, as the very formula is nothing but an implementation of Sheikh Hasina's agenda," he said.
In 2013, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had proposed forming an all-party election-time government and urged the BNP to nominate its MPs for inclusion in the interim cabinet.
Meanwhile, talking to The Independent, Awami League (AL) joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said as the next general elections is due in 2019, the party is not even thinking about any formula.
"Time will say the next general elections will be held under which formula. Now, our only one task is to take the nation forward and to make it a middle-income country by 2021, and a developed one by 2041,” he said.
The HC had offered two formulas for an interim government, to assist the Election Commission in holding the next two parliamentary elections.
The first formula allows the incumbent prime minister to lead an election-time cabinet consisting of 50 new ministers from all parties; the second provides the main opposition party with the opportunity to govern the country for the last one year of the five-year tenure of a parliament.
HC came up with the two formulas and observations in its full judgment on uncontested elections of 153 MPs, in the tenth parliamentary election held on January 5 last year. The full verdict was released around the end of last month.

HC formula on poll-time govt

AL, BNP show indifference

While the ruling Awami League said they are not even thinking about any formula regarding the next national election, the BNP yesterday termed the two formulas for the interim government, suggested by the High Court, unacceptable. The party observed that its participation in the next general election, under a system based on such formulas, is uncertain, as the proposed interim government would not be a neutral administration, for which the party has been waging a movement. Its not acceptable that an election-time government will have fresh 50 ministers led by the incumbent prime minister. Theres no need for such a cabinet, to hold an election, said BNP standing committee member Lt-Gen. (retd) Mahbubur Rahman. He said, according to the first formula, 50 new ministers will be picked as ministers of the election-time cabinet, from political parties with representation in the current parliament. This means BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami will have no representation in that cabinet, which is questionable. I dont think BNP would participate the next general election, under this formula, he said. When contacted, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zias adviser, Mahbub Uddin Khokon, said people would not accept the formulas proposed by HC. He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had given BNP a better proposal than HC, but BNP did not join that election because they knew that fair elections were not possible under Hasina. I think BNP wont take part in any election under such formula, as the very formula is nothing but an implementation of Sheikh Hasinas agenda, he said. In 2013, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had proposed forming an all-party election-time government and urged the BNP to nominate its MPs for inclusion in the interim cabinet. Meanwhile, talking to The Independent, Awami League (AL) joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said as the next general elections is due in 2019, the party is not even thinking about any formula. Time will say the next general elections will be held under which formula. Now, our only one task is to take the nation forward and to make it a middle-income country by 2021, and a developed one by 2041, he said. The HC had offered two formulas for an interim government, to assist the Election Commission in holding the next two parliamentary elections. The first formula allows the incumbent prime minister to lead an election-time cabinet consisting of 50 new ministers from all parties; the second provides the main opposition party with the opportunity to govern the country for the last one year of the five-year tenure of a parliament. HC came up with the two formulas and observations in its full judgment on uncontested elections of 153 MPs, in the tenth parliamentary election held on January 5 last year. The full verdict was released around the end of last month.